Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

306. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the qualification issue for community employment participants and these being used as part of the ratios, further to our discussion at a recent quarterly meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2319/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Community Employment (CE) programme is a labour market activation measure designed to help people who are long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged people to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities. After placement, participants are encouraged to seek permanent part-time and full-time jobs elsewhere based on the experience and new skills they have gained while in a Community Employment scheme. The CE programme is administered by the Department of Social Protection.

New qualification requirements announced as part of the Early Years Quality Agenda will be introduced under new Child Care Regulations which will be published shortly. The new regulations will require all staff employed to work directly with children in pre-school settings to hold as a minimum a FETAC Level 5 qualification in early childhood care and education. This new requirement will apply to new services registering with the Child and Family Agency after the commencement of the Regulations and to existing services from 31st December this year.

Following the introduction of these changes only CE workers on placement who hold the necessary qualification will be in position to meet the adult:child ratios.

At the request of my Department, the City and County Childcare Committees have established a project to examine the impact of these changes on the sustainability of childcare services that are currently dependent on CE workers to meet the ratio requirements. My Department has advised childcare providers who consider that the sustainability of their service is an issue as a result of this measure to contact their local City or County Childcare Committee immediately to discuss this matter.