Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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647. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which her Department determines capitation payments to the various qualifications of FETAC within the child care sector (details supplied); the mechanism of assessment applied to capitation payments paid to non-FETAC-qualified persons in the child care sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25272/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As part of the introduction of a minimum qualification standard for work in the Early Years sector, my Department has put in place a range of supports for those working in the sector. This included the publication of the DCYA Early Years Qualifications list, which itemises qualifications that meet the required standards. Anyone with a qualification on this list is automatically approved for work in the sector.

This list is very comprehensive and encompasses Irish and international qualifications. My Department also provides individual statements, on application, in instances where a person holds a qualification that is appropriate for work in the Early Years sector, but for various reasons, cannot be added to the published list.

The Further Education and Training Award Council (FETAC) was wound up in November 2012, and its functions transferred to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Relevant FETAC awards are accepted by my Department for work in the sector and these are itemised on the published list. My Department does not use FETAC awards as a standard. My Department does not, and has never, distinguished between FETAC awards and other types of award for purposes of payment or any other purpose.

In assessing a qualification, my Department takes both the content of the programme of learning and the award level of the final award achieved into account. By award level, we refer to the level at which the award is placed on the National Framework of Qualification (NFQ). The NFQ is both a national and international standard, as it is linked to the European Qualifications Framework, an overarching framework that links the qualifications frameworks of different European countries together. Management of the NFQ is a function of QQI and DCYA will adhere at all times to advice provided by QQI in relation to award levels. All awards are subject to the same standards of assessment.

Within the ECCE scheme, there are two rates of capitation paid. The standard capitation rate is paid to the majority of services, where the room leader of the ECCE group holds a relevant qualification at Level 6 on the NFQ or equivalent. The Higher Capitation rate is paid to services that meet the criteria for that rate, one of which is that the room leader of the ECCE group holds a relevant qualification at Level 7 on the NFQ or equivalent. It should be noted that the wording given here mirrors that of the minimum standard as set out in the regulations, and also that used in the ECCE contract with Early Years’ service providers. Where we use the word ‘equivalent’, this is to allow for international qualifications and for qualifications which were never linked to an appropriate level on the NFQ.

The award of the person in question is on the DCYA published list of approved Early Years qualifications. My Department has been advised that the award pre-dated award standards such as the NFQ, but that the designation of this award as being appropriate to a room leader at the standard rate of capitation is appropriate. This decision was taken subject to advice from the Department of Education Early Years Policy unit, QQI and St Nicholas Montessori College, Ireland.