The core obligations of the adult practitioner are set out at Part 11, Section 5 of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006
It is a requirement of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme which is implemented by my Department, that pre-school year leaders in services participating in the programme, and who are receiving the standard capitation, hold a qualification in childcare which is equivalent to FETAC Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ).
A higher capitation rate is available to sessional playschool services participating in the ECCE programme in which all childcare workers have qualification levels above the minimum requirements for the programme.