Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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265. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to implement the proposals which have been put forward by a group (details supplied) in a submission relating to the 2016 child care regulation requirements. [24980/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The majority of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 came into effect on 30th June 2016.

The Regulations provide that each employee working directly with children attending the service must hold 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 to be equivalent. The Regulations clearly state that the service provider must ensure that their staff meet this standard.

This section of the regulations took effect on 30th June 2016 for services registering after that date and for all other services on 31st December 2016.

In light of the implementation of the Childcare Regulations, from December 31 2016, Community Employment Scheme participants working in childcare services who do not have relevant childcare qualifications can no longer count towards the ratio of staff to children required.

The Department is aware that some community/not-for-profit services have relied on Community Employment workers as a core component of their business model. The Department commissioned Childcare Committees Ireland (CCI) to investigate the extent of likely issues and to work with community childcare services to minimise the impact of this change.

As of end 2016, 201 Community Services had undertaken a review. Of these, CCI have indicated that 60 are likely to be significantly impacted by the qualifications requirement. The Department has indicated that funding may be available to assist these services, and is currently considering proposals in this regard.

CCI, with the approval of Early Years Unit of the Department, have developed a business planning/cost analysis template and is continuing to work with services to identify a sustainable path forward, incorporating the cost of staff to replace CE scheme workers, based on a ‘cost per FTE child’ analysis.

The recently published Country Specific Recommendations 2017 state that 'Ireland should enhance social infrastructure....including quality childcare'. The minimum qualification requirement contained in the Regulations has an important role to play with regard to ensuring the provision of quality childcare by centre based childcare providers. Consequently, I have no plans to amend the Regulations.