John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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350. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to phase out crèche and play school service provision by community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17622/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department introduced a new Community Employment (CE) childcare strand in 2013 under which there is a dedicated childcare training programme leading to a major award at QQI Level 5 for CE participants who work directly with children. The QQI Major Level 5 Award is the entry-level requirement to work as a basic practitioner in childcare. This has led to rationalised entry requirements, defined standards of achievement, a career progression path, and a structure for CE workers in Early Years Services.

These changes are designed to provide a more tailored and valuable support to the provision of community childcare and achieve greater coherence between participation on CE and the job market. This will improve the career path for participants who wish to pursue a career in childcare. There are no plans to make further changes to the childcare strand of CE at present.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide additional resourcing for QQI level six training for community employment participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17623/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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A training grant is allocated to Community Employment schemes in respect of all approved places on a “per-place, per annum” basis. Training is identified in accordance with a tailored individual learning plan (ILP) compiled by the CE supervisor with the participant, given the participant’s training needs and employment goals. Any proposed training that exceeds the budget allocated is assessed based on the value of the training provided to furthering the employment prospects of the individual. There is flexibility that can be applied in the approval of training rates, particularly when the training leads to a QQI major award, including up to level six, e.g. in Childcare.

All expenditure must be accounted and vouched for by way of receipts. It is the responsibility of the scheme to ensure that they have obtained the best price and that they have achieved value for money. A CE scheme sponsor should contact their local DSP office if they have particular issues and the matter will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.