When the Early Years Quality Agenda was introduced in 2013, in order to further improve quality in pre-school services, one of the items to be progressed was the introduction of a requirement that all staff working with children in early years services should hold a qualification in early childhood care and education at a minimum of Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or equivalent. Under new Childcare Regulations, the level 5 requirement came into effect as of 30 June 2016 for newly-registering services and will come into effect for existing services on 31 December 2016. At present, Community Employment (CE) scheme workers form part of the adult:child ratios in some, but not all, community childcare facilities. The new qualification requirement will mean that such workers will no longer be permitted to count towards the required adult:child ratio unless they hold the required minimum qualification.
While I understand that these new regulations may cause initial difficulties in some community childcare services; I am committed to ensuring that all childcare is of an appropriately high quality, and this involves ensuring that every child is cared for by a suitably qualified person, whether a facility is provided on a community-not-for profit basis or not. To support staff to meet the new qualification requirements, my Department established the Learner Fund which has already allocated €3.5 million to over 3,000 staff for the purpose of upskilling. My Department is continuing to support upskilling in the sector and is working with community childcare facilities to ensure their financial viability.
At the request of my Department, the City and County Childcare Committees have established a project to examine the impact of these changes on the sustainability of community childcare services that are currently dependent on CE workers to meet the ratio requirements. My Department has advised childcare providers who consider that the sustainability of their service is at risk as a result of this measure to contact their local City or County Childcare Committee immediately to discuss this matter.
I am committed to making high quality childcare more accessible and affordable to more families. I also greatly value the service provided by Community-Not-for-Profit Childcare facilities.
