Written answers

Thursday, 27 March 2014

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Child Care Qualifications

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the main provisions of the learner fund to upskill early years practitioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14201/14]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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International evidence tells us that raising the qualification levels of staff working with children is key to improving the quality of services. As part of the quality agenda, therefore, I announced last year that by September 2015 all staff working with children in early years services would have to have a minimum Level 5 (on the National Qualifications Framework) qualification in early years care and education, or an equivalent qualification. In addition, by September 2015, Preschool Leaders delivering the free PreSchool Year programme will have to have a minimum Level 6 qualification, or equivalent.

The 2014 Budget included an allocation of €1.5 million in both 2014 and 2015, to help to support existing staff to meet the new qualification requirements. Yesterday I announced the launch of a Learner Fund, which will be administered by Pobal with the help of local City and County Childcare Committees. The Fund will provide funding for a two-year period specifically to assist existing staff working directly with children in registered early years services to meet the new requirements. The fund will be used to subsidise the cost for eligible learners to undertake accredited Level 5 and Level 6 courses provided by certain approved training providers. Training courses subsidised under this fund are expected to commence in September 2014. Full details of the eligibility criteria and how to apply are available on the Pobal website. Information was also provded through CCCs and through voluntary childcare organisations, as well as on my Department's website.

Training Providers interested in delivering some of this training anywhere in the country may submit an online Expression of Interest through a link on Pobal’s website during the next three weeks. To be eligible, Training Providers will need to meet a number of criteria including being registered with Quality and Qualifications Ireland with validated programmes of learning. The Expression of Interest process is expected to be completed by the end of May 2014 when an approved panel of training providers will be created for the Learner Fund.

Individual applicants can submit an online application for a subsidised training course under the Learner Fund. To be eligible, they must be currently working directly with children in a registered early years service and meet the criteria for the Learner Fund which will be set out in the application process. Applications will be accepted for the next four weeks. The Learner Fund is limited and it is expected that applications will be considered on a “first-come” basis. Confirmation of the outcome of applications is expected to be completed in June 2014.

Further details are available on the Pobal website as well as on my Department's website.

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