Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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1232. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she has engaged with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to introduce an “earn and learn” apprenticeship model, enabling childcare staff to gain qualifications and advance their careers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30376/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently implementing Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028. It aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in the sector and to raise the profile of careers in the sector.

Aligned to the Programme for Government commitment to introduce an ‘Earn and Learn’ apprenticeship model enabling staff in this sector to gain qualifications and advance their careers, Pillar 4 of Nurturing Skills includes an action to examine the development of a range of entry routes into the sector, including apprenticeships or other work-based learning, and access programmes in further education and higher education.

Research on alternative entry routes in 2025 has recently been commissioned, with a view to using that research to inform next steps.

While Nurturing Skills commits to examine alternative entry-routes, the development of an apprenticeship would rely on the formulation of proposals by employers and education institutions, and would require approval by the National Apprenticeship Office. The consideration and potential introduction of an apprenticeship model in the sector is therefore not solely a policy matter for my Department.

While an apprenticeship specifically to support existing early years educators to upskill to National Framework of Qualifications Level 7/8 degrees is an option, Nurturing Skills also commits to offer funded places on flexible education programmes to current early years educators to support upskilling and strengthen career development pathways through the new Nurturing Skills Learner Fund.

The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund commenced in 2024 on a pilot basis for 350 staff working in the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector to support them to upskill to level 7 and 8 degrees. The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund will continue in pilot phase in 2025 with 365 additional educators recently receiving confirmation that they have been approved funding to commence studies in Autumn 2025.