Written Answers Nos. 553-573
553. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when single farm and disadvantaged areas scheme payments will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50596/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/ Disadvantaged Area Scheme is now completed, payments under both Schemes will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
555. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive their payment; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50712/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application on 10 May 2013. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility/cross compliance inspection. This inspection has been completed and the results are now being finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will shortly be in contact with the person named.
556. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a penalty on a single farm payment for an over-claim will be reviewed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50745/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2012 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection identified discrepancies between the area declared and the area found, resulting in an over-declaration in area of between 3% and 20%. Based on the Terms and Conditions of the schemes, this resulted in the 2012 payments being based on the found area having been reduced by double the difference between the area found and the area claimed.
The person named appealed this decision and was notified of the outcome of the review, which was to uphold the original decision, on 18 January 2013. The person named appealed this outcome to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office and this appeal is currently being considered. The person named will be notified of the decision on this appeal as soon as the outcome is known. The outcome of this appeal process may have an effect on payments due to the person named under the 2013 schemes as the lands, whose eligibility is currently being considered as part of the appeal process, have been included by the person named in their application under the 2013 schemes.
557. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if national guidelines are planned for the traceability of meat supplied to the beef, sheep and pig processing plants to resolve the issue of substitution of imported meats in Irish-labelled meat exports. [50759/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder EU law primary responsibility for the safety and traceability of food placed in the market place lies with food business operators. The role of my Department is to verify compliance by the food business operators with this requirement.
Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002, which sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law, stipulates, among other things, that food business operators at all stages of production, processing and distribution within the businesses under their control must ensure that foods satisfy the requirements of food law. Specifically in regard to traceability, the regulations require that food business operators must have systems in place to be able to identify any person from whom they have been supplied with a food. They must also have a system in place to identify the other businesses to which their product has been supplied. In other words a food business operator at each and every stage in the food chain must be able to identify the source of its inputs as well as having details of the first recipient of its output. This is commonly referred to as the “one step forward one step backward” traceability system.
My Department has a permanent veterinary presence at all its approved slaughter plants. Controls at stand-alone secondary processing plants are carried out at a frequency which is based on an annual risk assessment for each plant. An annual audit of imported products is carried out in each Department approved meat plant. The audit includes physical identity, labelling and documentary checks. This includes product originating both in EU Member States and third countries. In addition, labelling and documentary checks form part of the routine checks conducted by Department officials.
Food labelling used to inform consumers of the properties of pre-packaged food is governed by harmonised EU rules. My colleague, the Minister for Health has overall responsibility for general food labelling legislation but my Department plays an important role in the labelling of food together with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). The FSAI has published guidelines which provide an overview of the legislative requirements for the documentation and labelling of all meats including beef and I understand that this material is currently under review.
Rules on the labelling of meat and meat products are laid down in EU legislation. For beef, the current rules require compulsory origin labelling, with place of birth, rearing and slaughter specified.
In 2011, the European Union passed a new Council Regulation on Food Information for the Consumers (FIC), Regulation 1169/2011, which has updated the requirements for consumer information and labelling in a number of areas including:
- country of origin or place of provenance including the origin labelling for meats other than beef (that is swine, sheep, goats and poultry),
- voluntary labelling of all foods and
- the mandatory labelling of meat as an ingredient.
These requirements will have to be implemented by way of EU Commission implementing regulations and it is expected that the draft EU Commission proposal currently being discussed at working group level will be voted on by 13 December 2013. Any new regulations will come into force on 1 April 2015.
558. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to establish a working group to promote the production of feed compounds to reduce the ever-increasing imported feed bill. [50762/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans to establish a working group to promote the production of compound feed. There are some 100 compound feed manufacturers in the State producing in excess of 4 million tonnes per annum. It is important to the Irish feed industry that there is a consistent supply of quality feed, especially in the pig and poultry industry and those rations requiring a high protein content. Significant quantities of high protein feed materials, such as Soya Bean Meal, Distillers Dried Grains and Maize Gluten Feed are imported as there is limited scope for alternative protein substitution from home-grown protein crops.
559. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has taken any action to promote the use of biogas from agricultural waste; and if he has promoted the use of biomethane fuel in agricultural vehicles. [50764/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe use of biogas from agricultural waste through Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is an area that has been supported by my Department. A Scheme of Investment Aid for Demonstration of On-Farm Waste Processing Facilities was introduced by my Department in June 2006, with funding of €4m. In 2007, grant-aid was approved under the Scheme for the development of ten on-farm anaerobic digestion facilities. The grant-aid is payable only on completion of the work concerned and one grant of €400,000 has been drawn down to-date. Applicants, on request, are being provided with extensions until end-June 2014 to complete the investment works needed in order to draw down the grant-aid available.
My Department also provided funding for research under the Stimulus fund 2007–2013 to three projects related to anaerobic digestion which are ongoing. The price supports via Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff for AD announced by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, indexed and offered on a 15-year basis, have the potential to underpin the development of the technology in Ireland. The introduction of these tariffs was supported by my Department.
Officials from my Department are contributing to a working group chaired by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on the development of a National Bioenergy Strategy to be published shortly. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is also represented on this working group. Among the issues being considered as part of the development of this strategy document are AD and the potential for utilising biogas and biomethane. The strategy document, when completed, will take account of the various strands of bioenergy that are dealt with within my Department, with a view to maximising their potential contribution to achieving renewable energy targets for 2020 and beyond.
560. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received a request from a deputation on the downgrade of his offices in Roscommon town; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that other State bodies are now reviewing and reversing the policy of complete centralisation of administrative functions; if he will review the decision to downgrade the Roscommon office in view of the unique skill-set acquired by his staff in that office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50813/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have received a request to meet with a deputation in relation to the transfer of the administrative functions out of the Roscommon regional office.
As I have indicated in response to previous Parliamentary Questions on this issue, there has been a significant reduction in the number of administrative staff required in regional offices arising from the reduction in the incidence of disease, the computerisation of much of the work and the introduction of various efficiencies into the operation of the Bovine TB eradication scheme. In this context, the centralisation of administrative functions in the local offices to two centres fits in both with my Department’s objectives in driving efficiency and savings and also with the broad public service reform agenda. It will enable my Department to reduce the number of administrative staff it requires to support Veterinary Office operations and, accordingly, the cost of providing its services and, at the same time, it will facilitate the re-deployment of staff from the local offices to other State agencies and, thereby, enable the Government to provide services more efficiently through these agencies.
I should emphasise that the centralisation of administrative functions will not negatively impact upon local access and services for local customers. The Department vets, inspectors and technical officers, along with appropriate administrative support, will remain in place in the Roscommon office to service our clients across all of the schemes that are provided from this office.
In view of the foregoing, I do not intend to alter my decision to centralise the administrative functions in the regional offices.
561. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be paid their single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50816/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing direct contact by an official of my Department with the person named, the issue regarding one land parcel declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, identified at validation, has been resolved. Payment will shortly issue, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
562. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has held provisional discussions with his Department and with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht regarding a new agri-environmental scheme to be rolled out under the new rural development programme; if he favours a whole farm approach or a more targeted scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50855/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork on the design of the next Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020 is well underway. In designing the new RDP, my Department must take account of the range of requirements set out in the draft Rural Development Regulation and the need to support key policy aims for the agri food sector in light of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. As part of this process a number of ex-ante analysis are being undertaken, and key stakeholders are being consulted.
While the draft Rural Development presents a menu of possible measures for Member States, an agri-environment scheme is a mandatory element of the new RDP. Accordingly, officials in my Department have been working on the design of an agri-environment scheme for the new RDP. As part of this process, my Department is in ongoing discussions with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Final decisions in relation to the exact measures to be included in the new RDP and how they are to be structured have not yet been made. I expect to make decisions in relation to the measures to be supported under the new RDP by the end of this year, and to submit a draft programme to the Commission in early 2014.
563. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the value of services provided to the public by her Department and entities reporting to her Department where a payment is accepted by debit or credit card; the percentage of additional charge that is applied to such transactions under the merchant agreement; the total value of the additional charge in respect of debit and credit cards in 2012; if any portion of the additional charge accrued to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50129/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and the Agencies under its remit do not receive any payments by way of debit or credit card.
564. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has instructed the Adoption Authority of Ireland to carry out an extensive audit of all of its files and all accredited bodies as part of an investigation into seeking information about illegal adoptions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50159/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra569. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if an extensive audit has been carried out on all of the adoption files retained by the Adoption Authority of Ireland, including files that belonged to accredited adoption bodies, to determine the extent to which any potential illegal adoptions which took place in the State in the past 61 years can be identified. [50334/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 564 and 569 together.
Records in relation to adoptions as well as illegal birth registrations are currently held by a number of agencies, including the HSE, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and also by private adoption agencies, maternity hospitals, private individuals and other sources.
Information held by the Adoption Authority is primarily in relation to adoptions which took place since the Adoption Act 1952. If no adoption took place the Authority would not have an adoption file. Where no adoption took place, if records exist they may be held by a number of sources including hospitals, GPs, Mother and Baby Homes, religious orders and other sources. A large number of these files are being transferred to the HSE.
The HSE provides an Information and Tracing Service throughout the country to birth mothers, adopted persons and their families. The Adoption Act 2010, requirement that agencies providing Information and Tracing services would gain accreditation resulted in a number of religious orders deciding not to apply for accreditation and transferring files from their Mother and Baby Homes and Adoption Societies to the HSE. Approximately 25,000 files have been transferred to the HSE Regional Adoption Service in Cork, from the Sacred Heart Adoption Society, which had responsibility for Bessboro, Co Cork; Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea, Co Tipperary; and Castlepollard, Co Westmeath. Work by the HSE on the organising and storage of these files has taken place and the HSE is anxious to preserve the integrity of these records. The HSE has sought the advice of the National Archives in relation to the proper storage of these files that are of great significance.
The HSE also has records that include those for St. Anne’s Adoption Society; St Mary’s Adoption Society, Kerry; Ard Mhuire, Dunboyne, Co Meath; Limerick Catholic Adoption Society; St Patrick's Mother and Baby Home Navan Road, Dublin; St Louise's Adoption Society Dublin; Dublin Health Authority Board of Assistance; Rotunda Girls Aid Society; the Ossory Kilkenny Adoption Society; St Kevin's and St Johns Adoption Societies. The HSE is also in negotiation regarding files from Holles Street, St Brigid's, and St Patrick Guild. Furthermore PACT, who are an agency accredited under the Act, have records of various Protestant organisations. A comprehensive list of records held, and their locations, is available on the HSE website.
The HSE Information and Tracing Service recognises the importance attached to this area of service provision and has put in place a plan to redistribute records from individual institutions in their entirety, to the various adoption teams around the country, in a concerted effort to reduce waiting times. The HSE is in the process of reorganising the information and tracing system to allocate social work resources country wide in a way that will allow for reduced waiting times across the country. The HSE has advised me that, in the first instance, any person seeking information on adoption, or an illegal registration of a birth, should contact the Adoption Authority of Ireland or the HSE Community Services who will assist in directing them to the personnel dealing with their particular records. The HSE is working to provide a more streamlined service and to ensure that enquiries in regard to information and tracing are handled as quickly as possible.
The National Adoption Contact Register which is operated by the Adoption Authority was established in 2005 to assist adopted people and their natural families to make contact with each other, exchange information or state their contact preferences. They decide, through a range of information and contact options, how they wish to proceed. The Authority, the Health Service Executive and accredited adoption services routinely inform enquirers about the existence of the register and encourage anyone interested in tracing or gaining information to sign up. I am conscious of recent media coverage of the issue of information and tracing and I would hope that this will encourage more birth mothers in particular to access the Contact Preference Register and where possible to consent to the release of information.
I have no plans to initiate an audit of all files in this regard.
565. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the actions her Department will be taking after the recent report released by the national review panel concerning children who have died in care, after-care or known to the Health Service Executive in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50163/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the publication of the nine individual reports and two Annual Reports of the National Review Panel established under HIQA Guidance to review child deaths and serious incidents. While it is important to acknowledge that in some cases, disappointing deficiencies in practice are highlighted, it is also important to acknowledge that case work has improved. Managers and front line professional staff are more aware of the importance of recognising and responding to neglect while making sure that the long term impact on the future health and well being of a child is also recognised and responded to with good quality services.
Key themes emerging from the reports include the importance of prioritisation and good assessment of referrals, working with young people who are resistant to being helped, suicide prevention and early intervention for children experiencing neglect. The HSE has commenced a process of sharing the learning from these case reviews with its frontline staff, together with learnings from the initial phases of the audit of neglect files. As a consequence of learning from these and similar cases, managers and staff are instructed to make sure they build close working relationships with colleagues in other disciplines and agencies to support vulnerable young people such as those featured in these reports.
There exists now a significant opportunity in bringing together a multi-disciplinary team in the formation of the Child and Family Agency to respond in a more cohesive and coordinated way to the needs of children and young people who present with complex issues which need to be responded to by a range of agencies and disciplines working across sectors. Strong interagency arrangements between the new Child and Family Agency and the HSE will continue to be vital and protocols are already in development in anticipation of the establishment of the new Agency.
I also intend to strengthen the operation of the National Review Panel by asking HIQA to undertake an audit/oversight role in relation to the processes of the Panel. HIQA are agreed in principle to take on this oversight role and discussions are ongoing in relation to the detail.
566. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out the mechanism with which she intends to roll out the mentoring programme for preschool years as announced in budget 2014; the timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50255/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe commitment to improve the quality of early childhood care and education has been a key priority for me since becoming Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. To assure higher standards in pre-school services, my Department is progressing the Pre-School Quality Agenda and I have identified a number of areas that can significantly enhance the quality of the service provided including the implementation of the Siolta and Aistear frameworks.
The successful implementation of the frameworks on a nation-wide level will require all childcare practitioners to have a thorough understanding of quality early years provision. I secured funding in Budget 2014 to establish a new National Quality Support Service for pre-school services. The National Quality Support Service will include the introduction of a new intensive support service which will work directly with childcare services to improve the quality of pre-school care and education.
The key to the provision of successful supports to childcare services will be a coherent national approach to all quality support. I am currently considering how best to achieve that and will be consulting with key stakeholders over coming weeks. Within this overall approach, I hope that more intensive supports would begin to be provided in September 2014.
567. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the changes she proposes to make to the child care or preschool regulations; and the timeframe in which these changes will be implemented. [50257/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraPre-school services are governed by Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991 and by the Child Care (Pre-School Services (No. 2) Regulations 2006. These Regulations are supported by explanatory notes which offer guidance and assist in interpreting the regulations. New National Quality Standards, which will replace the explanatory notes and which will set out the outcomes and supporting criteria against which the quality of childcare services will be measured, will be launched shortly.
My Department is currently progressing the Pre-School Quality Agenda and a number of key areas have been identified which will require reform with the objective of improving the quality of childcare services. The amendments to underpin these reforms are part of the legislative process for the establishment next year of the Child and Family Agency.
Legislation to strengthen the current inspection regime is expected to be enacted before the end of the year. This will provide a statutory basis for registration of pre-school services and will introduce a range of new enforcement powers for Inspectors at pre-prosecution level. Under the proposed new system, all pre-school services will have to be registered in order to operate. Inspectors will be empowered to specify improvement conditions that a service must comply with and the threat of removal of registration will be available. This system will, for the first time, provide for timely and effective regulation and enforcement of standards in pre-school services, backed up by statutory registration.
I am introducing new qualification requirements for staff delivering childcare in the pre-school sector. The current minimum requirement of Level 5 for pre-school leaders delivering the pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme will be increased to Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ). In addition, all pre-school assistants, and all other staff caring for children in a pre-school service, will be subject to a minimum requirement of Level 5. This requirement will be effective from September 2014 for new services, and from September 2015 for existing services. The new legislative amendments to provide for this change are also being progressed.
568. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will clarify the new fee structure for registration of preschool services; if this new fee will replace the existing fee; the current level of funding from existing fee and the projected level of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50258/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraLegislative amendments to underpin the implementation of key changes under the Pre-School Quality Agenda are currently being progressed including legislation to provide for the introduction of a registration system for pre-school services. Pre-school services are currently required to pay an annual registration fee to the HSE of between €40 and €80 depending on the level of service they provide. The range of fees are being reviewed and a final decision in relation to the level of the annual fee payable, which will also differ on the level of service provided, will be made shortly. It is intended that a significant portion of this additional funding will be utilised to support the development of an effective inspection framework to improve and maintain the quality of childcare services.
570. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a decision will be made on the lottery grant fund application in respect of a group (details supplied) in County Meath. [50403/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a funding provision of €500,000 in respect of National Lottery Funding for 2013 and the closing date for applications was the 18th October 2013. Over 600 applications, totalling over €7.5m, were received and the club to which the Deputy refers is one of these applications. As the volume of applications far exceeds the available resources it will not be possible to assist all applications. The assessment process is ongoing and all applicants will be informed of the outcome as soon as final decisions have been made.
571. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress to date regarding inter-country adoption; the progress that the Adoption Authority of Ireland has made in establishing arrangements with the Hague Convention countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50576/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Adoption Authority is continuing its work to establish administrative arrangements with a number of Hague countries in relation to intercountry adoptions, as provided for under section 72 of the Adoption Act 2010. The Authority has travelled to a number of jurisdictions in order to make contact with the Central Authorities, advise of our processes and procedures, assess the need for additional administrative arrangements or agreements; and to glean as much information as possible of relevance to prospective adopters from those countries. The visits also provide opportunities to streamline processes on both sides and obtain up-to-date information for prospective adopters on developments in these countries.
In relation to intercountry adoption with Bulgaria the AAI has advised me that referrals for the adoption of Bulgarian children by Irish applicants have commenced.
In September 2012 the Adoption Authority and the Vietnamese Central Authority for Adoption signed an administrative arrangement for intercountry adoption. The administrative arrangement is the first international arrangement for intercountry adoption entered into by the AAI and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since both countries ratified the Hague Convention. The Adoption Authority accredited Helping Hands for activities in relation to facilitating adoptions from Vietnam and Helping Hands has received confirmation from the Vietnamese authorities of its approval to operate there. Helping Hands has advised that they expect adoptions to commence shortly.
The administrative arrangement in relation to intercountry adoption from the USA has been given effect. Pending the delegation of functions to an Irish based accredited body working in the USA, the Authority will continue to send Article 15 assessment reports to US adoption service providers.
During a visit to India in March of this year I was advised that registration is open with CARA for special needs cases; this includes children with intellectual or physical disabilities, siblings including twins, and children over 5 years of age. It was explained that India currently operates intercountry adoption with other Hague countries without the need for any specific administrative agreements of the type envisaged in Article 72 of the Adoption Act 2010. The Adoption Authority has advised that it is their view that a registered accredited body to facilitate intercountry adoption is necessary. The AAI will consider any applications it receives in this regard.
Work has also been undertaken in terms of agreements on adoption from non-Hague countries. Russia and Ethiopia are not signatories of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. As such, future adoptions from Russia and Ethiopia would require a bilateral agreement between Ireland and these countries.
Work is also ongoing in relation to a possible bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption with Russia. In October a delegation of Russian officials travelled to Ireland for detailed discussions with officials from my Department, the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the HSE. At the meeting significant progress was made and my Department has committed to reverting to the Russian side in the coming weeks with further detailed proposals in an effort to address both Russian and Irish legal and administrative requirements to the greatest degree possible.
The Adoption Authority delegation visit to Ethiopia in April of 2012 was an initial part of the Authority's deliberations on the feasibility and suitability of entering into discussions with Ethiopia on a bilateral adoption agreement. The Authority is considering the legal advice received on the compatibility of Irish and Ethiopian adoption law and will advise me of the position when all the information is available.
As intercountry adoption is a constantly changing landscape, the most up to date information on individual countries can be found on the Adoption Authority website (www.aai.gov.ie).
572. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the procurement policy her Department undertook in awarding the €900,000 training fund contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50634/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1998, when the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme and, subsequently, the National Childcare Investment Programme, were introduced, my Department and its predecessors has been supporting the development of the childcare sector. This support has included the provision of annual funding to a number of voluntary childcare organisations. These include:
- Early Childhood Ireland (formerly the National Children's Nurseries Association and the Irish Preschool Play Association)
- Barnardos
- Irish Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Association
- Forbairt Naionrai Teoranta
- Border Counties Childcare Network
- St Nicholas Montessori Association and
- Childminding Ireland
These are voluntary organisations which, inter alia, provide training and quality supports to their members.
As part of my Pre-School Quality Agenda, I will be introducing new qualification requirements for childcare workers. All staff caring for children in a pre-school service will be subject to a minimum qualification requirement of FETAC Level 5, while pre-school leaders delivering the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme will require a Level 6 qualification. These requirements will come into effect from September 2014 for new services, and from September 2015 for existing services.
In the light of these timeframes, my Department has sought to work with the childcare sector to accelerate the process for training and upskilling its staff and improving the quality of care delivered to children. It is recommended that to achieve the required qualifications in the limited time period, staff in the sector, who are on modest pay should not have to pay the full cost of accredited training from their own resources.
In this context, Early Childhood Ireland, which is the largest of the voluntary childcare organisations funded by my Department, has been asked as part of its 2013 workplan to offer additional training to the existing childcare workforce, in relevant Level 5 and 6 training modules. This training has commenced and I understand that 13 training courses are currently being delivered. It is anticipated that up to 600 childcare staff will access courses leading to the higher qualification. Additional grant funding will be made available to ECI in 2013 to provide for this.
Early Childhood Ireland is a limited company with charitable status. It represents a significant number of the childcare facilities whose staff will benefit from the training initiative. ECI has a proven record in delivering quality training to its members, and is a registered FETAC/QQI centre with full Quality Assurance status. Processes, policies and procedures are in place to ensure fair and consistent assessment of learners. This process is continually reviewed through self-evaluation, and is monitored by FETAC/QQI.
573. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if child care inspectorates are fully staffed; and the way recruitment operates. [50851/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.
