Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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1012. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the minimum qualification necessary for and training required by persons taking up positions in child care; the advice available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was recently informed that their qualifications are no longer recognised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23331/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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As part of the child care quality agenda aimed at improving the quality of child care services, new qualification requirements for child care staff working directly with children were announced last year. A minimum qualification of Level 5 (or equivalent) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) will be required for all staff working with children in preschool services. The minimum qualification for all preschool leaders delivering the free preschool year under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme will be increased from Level 5 to Level 6 (or equivalent) on the NFQ. The new qualification requirements will apply to all new services from September 2014, and to all existing services from September 2015. It is not possible to determine, from the information supplied, if the qualifications of the person referred to by Deputy satisfy the new criteria. The documentation certifying the qualifications should be submitted to the Early Years Policies and Programme unit in my Department for evaluation.