Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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998. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated additional cost of increasing the learner fund to allow all childcare workers currently holding level 5 qualifications to progress to level 6. [31650/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Figures from the current Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2018/2019 suggest that in mid-2019 there were 26,882 staff working directly with children in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services, of whom 26.8% held a relevant Level 5 major award. On that basis, to support all staff with a Level 5 award to progress to a Level 6 major award would involve supports for at least 7,204 staff.

Currently the Learner Fund provides a bursary of €750 for staff who complete a relevant degree-level qualification (Level 7 or Level 8). However, if this bursary were to be extended on the same terms to practitioners completing a Level 6 award, the cost would be €5,403,000 to support 7,204 practitioners.

However, this would not mean that the Level 6 qualification was free-of-charge to participants as my Department only partly funds ELC and SAC staff to pursue a higher qualification under the Learner Fund.

On the basis of a review of fees for a sample of Level 6 programmes, it is estimated that the full fees for 7,204 practitioners to undertake a Level 6 award would be between approximately €7.2m and €11.5m.

However, it should be noted that the cost to the State might differ depending on the form of support provided. Furthermore, these estimates do not take into account staff turnover in the sector, which would increase the number of staff requiring support in order to achieve the target.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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999. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated additional cost of increasing the learner fund to a level which would allow 50% of childcare workers currently holding level 6 qualifications to progress to level 7. [31651/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Figures from the Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2018/2019 suggest that in mid-2019 there were 26,882 staff working directly with children in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services, of whom 41.8% held a relevant Level 6 major award. On that basis, to support 50% of staff with a Level 6 award to progress to at least a Level 7 degree-level qualification would involve supports for at least 5,618 staff.

Currently the Learner Fund provides a bursary of €750 for staff who complete a relevant degree-level qualification (Level 7 or Level 8). If a bursary of this size were to be provided to 5,618 staff, the cost would be €4,213,500.

However, this would not mean that the degree-level qualification was free-of-charge to participants as my Department only partly funds ELC and SAC staff to pursue a higher qualification under the Learner Fund.

The Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines for Initial Professional Education (Level 7 and 8) degree programmes for early learning and care, published in 2019, will require relevant Level 7 degree programmes to be 3 years in duration, with a Level 6 award allowing 1 year advanced entry. On the basis of a review of fees for a sample of relevant degree programmes, it is estimated that the full fees for 2 years' participation in degree programmes for 5,618 practitioners would be between approximately €35m and €56m.

However, it should be noted that the cost to the State might differ depending on the form of support provided. Furthermore, these estimates do not take into account staff turnover in the sector, which would increase the number of staff requiring support in order to achieve a 50% target.