Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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355. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will support Early Childhood Ireland in its efforts for increased capitation and continuous professional development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40469/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides for one free pre-school year for all eligible children before commencing primary school.

The ECCE programme is funded by my Department through the provision of capitation grants paid directly to participating services. The standard capitation fee paid to participating services is €62.50 per week per eligible child. A higher capitation fee of €73 per week per eligible child is available to pre-school services with more highly qualified staff.

The Government succeeded in maintaining the pre-school year on a universal and free basis despite the difficult budgetary situation that prevailed in recent years. While considerable progress has been made in correcting the overall budgetary situation, the funding available to my Department does not allow for the consideration of an increase in the capitation paid to childcare providers participating in the ECCE programme at this time.

The recent Eurydice and Eurostat Report ‘Key Data on Early Childhood Education and Care – Education and Training in Europe’  shows that continuing professional development (CPD) is not obligatory for educational and care staff in many European countries including Ireland. This Report does recognise the importance of CPD and I would like to be in a position to provide for mandatory CPD but first I would like to see early years practitioners meet the new minimum requirements.   

The Deputy may be aware that as part of the early years quality agenda aimed at improving the quality of childcare services, new qualification requirements for childcare 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 pre-school services and the minimum qualification for all pre-school leaders delivering the free pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme will be increased from Level 5 to Level 6 (or equivalent) on the NFQ.

To support staff who are seeking to meet the new qualifications requirement, funding of €3 million is being made available over the two years 2014/2015 under the new Learner Fund which was launched in March this year. The Fund is being administered by Pobal, with the assistance of local City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs).

My Department also provides annual funding to seven voluntary childcare organisations in the childcare sector, who provide support to childcare services throughout the country. This funding, which will amount to over €2.6 million in 2014, enables the voluntary organisations to provide a range of support services to their members, including on-going training supports.