Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Officials in my Department have liaised with SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority for the latest data on childcare courses. Currently, there are 63 childcare focused courses being offered across the country, with 19 being offered in Education and Training Boards and a further 44 in Higher Education Institutions. A full list of these courses and course references is attached. Important work is being carried out on workforce development in the early years sector by colleagues in the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth (DCEIDY) and the Department of Education (DoE). In December 2021, Minister O’Gorman launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare, 2022-2028. The Plan includes specific actions to support the recruitment and retention of staff with the necessary qualifications, and ongoing staff training and development, to create a workforce which feels valued and is motivated to deliver the best possible service to children. There is currently no data available on the employment outcomes for learners in childcare courses in FET and HEIs.