Vol. 473 No. 1
130 Dr. McDaid asked the Minister for Health the reason the National Nurse Examination Body (NNEB) diploma in Northern Ireland, dealing with childcare, is not recognised by health boards in the Republic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23039/96]
Limerick East): Childcare workers in the health service are employed at the following grades trainee houseparent, assistant houseparent and houseparent.
The current basic qualification for trainee and assistant house parents is the leaving certificate. However, assistant houseparents must acquire a recognised qualification in childcare social care in order to progress to the top of the salary scale. Similarly, houseparents are required to possess a recognised qualification for entry to the grade. The recognised qualifications are: national diploma in childcare; national diploma in applied social studies and social care, (NCEA); diploma in childcare social care; diploma in applied social studies — social care, (Dublin Institute of Technology), and any equivalent qualification
The qualification referred to by the Deputy is deemed by the National Council for Education Awards not to be an equivalent qualification.
