Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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559. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of early childhood care and education teachers who hold a two-year diploma in Montessori education who are paid the higher capitation rate of €73 per child per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41044/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme introduced the first-ever requirement for minimum qualifications for staff working in the child care sector. Prior to the introduction of the programme in January 2010 there was no requirement for staff working directly with children in preschool services to hold any education qualification.

It is a requirement of the ECCE programme that preschool year leadersin services participating in the programme, and who are receiving the standard capitation, hold a qualification in child care which is equivalent to Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ). A higher capitation rate is available to services participating in the ECCE programme in which all of the preschool leaders hold an appropriate qualification at a minimum of Level 7 and preschool assistants hold a Level 5 on the NFQ.

As part of the Early Years Quality Agenda, new qualification requirements for child care workers are being introduced. All staff caring for children in an early years service will be subject to a minimum qualification requirement of Level 5, while preschool leaders delivering the ECCE programme will require a Level 6 qualification. These requirements will come into effect from September 2015 for existing services.

Figures compiled this year by my Department indicate that approximately 24% of the 4,300 services participating in the ECCE programme are in receipt of the higher capitation rate. This means that at least one member of staff in the qualifying child care service holds an appropriate qualification at Level 7 or higher and the service fulfils the other relevant criteria. My Department is not currently in a position to give a breakdown of the awarding authorities in these cases.