I propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 578 together.
Nearly all pre-school services in the State are now participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. The ECCE programme requires that staff members acting as pre-school year leaders hold a childcare qualification 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 this programme in which all childcare workers have qualification levels above the minimum requirements for the programme. Staff working with children under the ECCE programme as pre-school assistants, and staff in the childcare sector generally, are not required to hold a specific qualification.
To determine if a City and Guilds qualification is equivalent to a FETAC Level 5 qualification and is thereby an acceptable qualification for the role of pre-school leader under the ECCE programme, my Department must be able to identify the qualification on the published City and Guilds Qualification List. From the information provided by the Deputy it is not possible to identify this award and if the exact name of the qualification and the City and Guilds qualification reference number is submitted the matter will be examined by my Officials and the Deputy will be advised further on this matter.