Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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230. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount allocated to the learner fund to assist existing staff in the child care sector meet new qualification requirements; the date on which this will be introduced; the number of staff who are expected to avail of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16388/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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€3m has been provided over 2 years, 2014 and 2015, to finance a training support scheme - the Learner Fund - to assist staff already working in the childcare sector to meet the new childcare qualification requirements which are being introduced under the revised Preschool Regulations. The Learner Fund is being implemented in conjunction with Pobal and the local City/County Childcare Committees, and allows individual staff to choose their preferred training provider from a list of accredited providers which were approved following an expression of interest process. There were two calls for applications during 2014 and the Fund was promoted through the City and County Childcare Committees and the Voluntary Childcare Organisations, as well as by Pobal. A total of 2,454 learners are now being supported to achieve a new qualification level. All eligible applicants were approved for funding.