Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding allocated to the learner fund for 2016-2017; the number of practitioners who availed of places available; and if all the funding allocated to the fund was availed of. [16895/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The amount of funding allocated to the learner fund in 2016 was €1.5m. In 2017, there is €3m allocated to the Learner Fund.

In 2016 the number of applications received under the Learner Fund was 1,032 and is broken down as follows:

- The third round of the Learner fund received 169 applications.

- The fourth round of the Learner fund received 863 applications.

In 2017, my Department made funding available to provide a bursary to childcare staff who have undertaken higher level courses at their own expense. 863 bursaries have been paid to date via the City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs). This number may change pending the appeals process.

Finally, I can confirm that all of the funding allocated to the Learner Fund in 2016 was not availed of. My Department is currently reviewing the Learner Fund in respect of 2017 and will release information on the next iteration shortly.