I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together.
The Community Employment (CE) Childcare Programme provides an opportunity for jobseekers to gain qualifications and work experience in the childcare sector as well as making an important contribution to community-based early childhood services.
The FETAC Major 5 Award is the entry level requirement to work as a basic practitioner in childcare. My Department is actively supporting CE participants in dedicated childcare placements to achieve the required qualification which improves the career path for CE participants who wish to pursue a career in childcare. CE participants are learners in a community childcare setting and are therefore not supposed to be included in the childcare ratios. Most CE participants in the childcare programme are working to achieve the relevant FETAC level 5 or level 6 qualifications. Take-up of childcare places on the Community Employment programme was 1,865 at the end of September 2016. A breakdown of this number into those who have already obtained a Level 5 in Childcare is not available.
The childcare ratios and qualification requirements of those employed in childcare are a matter for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the HSE. I understand that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs are working closely with community childcare crèches to ensure the viability of childcare provision.