Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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166. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the Erasmus scheme will be expanded to the early years childcare and education sector to allow practitioner mobility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31038/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Erasmus Plus programme is to support, through lifelong learning, the educational, professional and personal development of people in education, training, youth and sport in Europe and beyond, thereby contributing to sustainable growth, quality jobs and social cohesion, to driving innovation and to strengthening European identity and active citizenship.

Centres, both privately and publicly funded, engaging in the provision of pre-school and pre-primary education are eligible to participate in Erasmus+ actions, particularly the organisation of learning mobility activities for their staff.  The activities can include:

- Job shadowing(2 to 60 days)

- Courses and Training(2 to 60 days)

- Teaching Assignments(2 to 365 days)

- Invited experts(2 to 60 days) - Invited experts may provide training to the staff, demonstrate new teaching methods or help transfer good practices in organisation and management. 

Léargas is the Irish National Agency for Erasmus+, and have responsibility for this action.  It has commenced with representative organisations in the Early Years provision to gain a better understanding of this sector.  The overall aim of this exchange is to identify and share examples of successful participation of ECEC managers and staff in professional development and peer exchange activities supported by the Erasmus+ programme.

While the date for the conclusion of this work is not finalised, the outcome will enable Léargas to invite Early Years settings to submit expressions of interests to participate in the programme.