Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the grandfather scheme applies to child care providers which have years of experience in the sector and run their own business; if so, when this grandfather scheme is due to expire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32271/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, registered providers of pre-school services will, from 31st December 2016, be required to ensure that each employee working directly with children attending the service holds at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework or a qualification deemed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to be equivalent.

When the Regulations were being drafted, consideration was given to granting an exemption to certain existing childcare staff who intended to retire from the sector in the near future, did not hold the minimum qualification and who did not wish to undertake a course of training at this stage.

The option to apply for this exemption was first publicised, through the local City/County Childcare Committees, in the second half of 2014, at which time it was anticipated that the Regulations (and thus the minimum qualification requirement) would be introduced by the Department to support existing childcare staff in achieving the minimum qualification.

The new Regulations were published on 4th May 2016, to commence on 30th June 2016. The Regulations stipulate that persons seeking to avail of the "Grandfather" exemption must - by 30th June 2016 - have signed the necessary declaration and be in possession of a letter from the Minister confirming that the exemption had been granted. Where this exemption has been granted, providers are entitled to continue working in childcare until 2021.