Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012
577. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that the FETAC level five and six will be recognised as the base qualification for childcare workers in private and public crèche facilities; the current standard being operated at European level; if this requires examination to ensure harmonisation and recognition by the European Union Member States; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49669/12]
View answerNearly 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. This programme requires that staff members acting as pre-school year leaders hold a child care qualification equivalent to FETAC Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland. A higher capitation rate is available to sessional playschool services participating in the ECCE programme in which all child care workers have qualification levels above the minimum requirements for the programme. In terms of our European counterparts, I would like to refer the Deputy to the EC Communication COM (2011)66 on Early Childhood Education and Care: Providing all our children with the best start for the world of tomorrow. This Communication recognised that "while there has been progress in many Member States towards more professionalised and specialised staffing of ECEC, this starts from a low base in many countries and improving this situation will be an important part of any expansion of ECEC services". This EC communication concluded by proposing "an agenda for work among Member States on key issues related to access and to quality, supported by actions by the Commission". This agenda includes "Promoting the professionalisation of ECEC staff". Ireland will participate fully in this EC agenda. The issue of training and qualification standards is currently being considered in the context of the Early Years Strategy.
