I propose to take Questions Nos. 1071 and 1072 together.
Under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, all employees working directly with children in a pre-school service must hold at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or equivalent as deemed by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
My Department has published a list of qualifications that meet the regulatory requirements for working in ELC in Ireland which are automatically approved for their respective recognised qualification level. If an individual’s qualification does not appear on the list they must apply to my Department to have their qualification assessed for approval.
There has been no change to the above operation since the Regulations were introduced in 2016 and therefore where a qualification was recognised either by appearing on the Departments list or through the qualification recognition process, it remains recognised.
In addition, the so-called grandfathering declaration was introduced in 2016 as a means to accommodate staff who intended to retire by September 2021. In recognition of the exceptional circumstances and disruption caused by the pandemic, in 2021 I authorised a temporary extension to September 2023 for those who signed the original Grandfathering Declaration.
On, 1 September 2023, the grandfathering declaration extension will end for staff employed in early learning and care (ELC) services. This means that staff, working in an ELC service, who had signed the declaration must after 1 September hold a minimum level 5 qualification to continue working with children in the sector.
