Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2012
90. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the fact that childcare funding schemes are presenting more demands on childcare services to avail of particular training or have certain competencies, and that in-service training is often carried out by early childhood staff voluntarily on their own time, the solutions she will put forward to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56711/12]
View answerThe free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides all pre-school children with equal access to early childhood care and education.
The only requirement in regard to staff qualifications which is currently required by the ECCE programme, is that Pre-School leaders hold a certification for a major award in childcare/early education at a minimum of level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or an equivalent nationally-recognised qualification, or a higher award in the childcare/early education field. During the initial period of January 2010 to August 2012, the programme accepted Pre-School leaders who held 4 core modules at level 5, rather than the full award. During this period, my Department worked in partnership with a major national voluntary childcare organisation to provide subsidised, on-line training to facilitate staff holding the interim qualification to achieve the full award. As and when any additional staff competencies or qualification requirements are planned for and introduced, my Department will continue to work with the sector to support any change process.
Services in which all staff are more highly qualified than the standard requirement, that is where all pre-school leaders hold a full level 7 or higher award, and all pre-school assistants hold a full level 5 award, qualify for a higher capitation rate under the programme. This is intended to encourage services which engage more highly qualified staff.
