Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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629. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to introduce a graduate staffing fund for the early childhood sector to ensure the hiring of well qualified staff into the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28046/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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International evidence indicates that raising the qualification levels of staff working with children is key to improving the quality of services. As part of the ongoing progression of the Early Years Quality Agenda, it was announced last year that by September 2015 all staff working directly with children in the 0-6 years age category in early years services would have to have a minimum Level 5 qualification on the National Qualifications Framework in early years care and education, or an equivalent qualification. This requirement applies to new services from September 2014.

In addition to the general requirement for a Level 5 qualification, preschool leaders delivering the free preschool provision to children in the age category 3 years 2 months to 4 years 7 months under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, who are currently required to hold a Level 5 qualification, will have to have a minimum Level 6 qualification, or equivalent, by September 2015.

In March this year the launch of a Learner Fund to assist existing staff working in the childcare sector to meet the new requirements was announced. The objective of the funding is to ensure that all existing staff are in a position to meet the minimum Level 5 qualification requirement to enable them to continue to work in the childcare sector and that staff seeking to fill the role of Pre-school Leader under the ECCE programme are assisted to obtain the required Level 6 qualification.

The Learner Fund, which is being administered by Pobal with the help of local City and County Childcare Committees, has a total allocation of €3 million for the years 2014 and 2015 and will be targeted to subsidise the cost for childcare staff who are required to undertake accredited Level 5 and Level 6 courses.

A panel of more than 50 training providers has been approved to deliver the training programmes and applications for support from staff in the childcare sector are currently being assessed and training will commence in September this year.

My Department does provide a higher rate of capitation to childcare services participating in the ECCE programme that employ preschool leaders who hold qualifications at Level 7 or higher. However, the priority for my Department is to ensure that all childcare staff are supported to obtain the minimum qualification required for employment in the childcare sector and the introduction of a graduate staffing fund for employees is not being considered.