Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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406. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of services participating in the early childhood care and education programme which are in receipt of the higher capitation rate and which have preschool leaders holding appropriate qualifications at level 6 or lower on the national framework of qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47900/14]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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409. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of services participating in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme, the preschool leaders of which all hold appropriate qualifications at level 7 on the national framework of qualifications and the preschool assistants of which all hold level 5 or higher qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48017/14]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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410. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of services participating in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme whose preschool assistants hold qualifications on the national framework of qualifications that are lower than level 5 and are in receipt of the higher capitation rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48018/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 406, 409 and 410 together.

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is implemented by my Department and provides a free preschool year for all children before they commence primary school. There are in the region of 4,200 child care providers participating in the programme, providing the free preschool provision to approximately 68,000 children each year. The programme represents an annual investment of nearly €175m.

It is currently a requirement of the programme that all the preschool leaders in participating child care services must hold, as a minimum, a qualification at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ). A standard weekly capitation fee of €62.50 is paid for each eligible child participating in the ECCE programme in these services.

A higher capitation fee of €73 for each eligible child is payable to preschool service providers where all the preschool leaders delivering the ECCE programme hold a bachelor degree in childhood/early education (minimum of Level 7 on the National Framework for Qualifications (NFQ) or equivalent) and have 3 years experience working in the sector, and where all the preschool assistants in the service hold a relevant major award in child care/early education at Level 5 on the NFQ or its equivalent.

When a service provider applies for the higher capitation rate, the relevant qualifications are checked in my Department to confirm eligibility. The ratios and sessions operated within the service must also be checked to ensure that all the ECCE children in the service are benefiting from the higher qualified staff.

In the academic year 2013/2014, 1,402 child care services who provided evidence of the qualifications of their staff and who received sanction from this Department were paid the higher capitation rate in accordance with the terms and conditions of the ECCE programme. Applications for the higher capitation rate for 2014/2015 are currently being examined by my officials and the numbers sanctioned for the higher payment are expected to be available early next year.

The higher capitation rate is not payable to services where staff delivering the ECCE programme hold qualifications lower than Level 7 on the NFQ or where the preschool leader holds the Level 7 qualification but the preschool assistant does not hold a Level 5 or higher qualification.

I wish to advise the Deputy that new qualification requirements are being introduced as part of the ongoing progression of the Early Years Quality Agenda. This will mean that a minimum Level 5 award on the NFQ in early childhood care and education will be necessary for all staff working in early years services (no requirement currently exists). It is expected that this requirement will apply from September 2015 in the case of existing services. In addition, the minimum qualification requirement for preschool leaders delivering the ECCE programme will be increased from a Level 5 award to a Level 6, from the same date.