Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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612. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a child care facility (details supplied) in County Kerry will be provided with the higher capitation in 2015 for two early child care and education preschool rooms, with the required staffing level 7 qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37161/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Prior to 2010, there was no education qualification requirement for staff working with children in the early years sector.This changed with the introduction of the free pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Education programme, whereby pre-school leaders are required to have a minimum of a Major Award at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) (or equivalent) to qualify for the standard capitation rate and a Level 7 Major Award (or equivalent) and 3 years experience working in the sector to qualify for the higher capitation rate.

It is also a requirement for pre-school services applying for the higher capitation payment that the number of pre-school leaders/pre-school assistants, in each room where eligible children are being cared for, satisfy the adult/child ratios as set out for the programme and which is outlined below -

Up to 11 children 1 Pre-School Leader

12 to 22 children 1 Pre-School Leader and 1 Pre-School Assistant

23 to 33 children 2 Pre-School Leaders and 1 Pre-School Assistant

33 to 44 children 2 Pre-School Leaders and 2 Pre-School Assistants

It is stressed that the higher qualified staff attracting the higher capitation rate must work directly with the children at all times during the ECCE sessions.

As part of the Early Years Quality Agenda, new qualification requirements for early years practitioners are being introduced in 2016. All staff caring for children in an early years service will be subject to a minimum qualification requirement of Level 5 on the NFQ (or equivalent), while pre-school leaders delivering the ECCE programme will require a Level 6 on the NFQ (or equivalent).

The higher capitation payment must be applied for on an annual basis and if the pre-school provider in question considers that they meet the relevant criteria, they should submit an application form together with the relevant documentation to the Early Years Policies and Programmes Unit in my Department.