Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018
983. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures in place for increasing the provision of CPD opportunities through Irish for childcare practitioners; the estimated costs which will be incurred; the specialist courses in immersion methodology for both childcare practitioners and directors of naíonraí available; and the cost of same. [45705/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra985. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of delivering a programme of Irish to those who work in preschools as part of their training modules, FETAC levels 5 to 8; and the estimated cost of delivering modules on Irish language and immersion education for level 7 and degree courses. [45707/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 983 and 985 together.
The forthcoming National Early Years Strategy will clarify the Government’s intentions regarding support of the Irish language in pre-schools, and complement the aims of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language (2010-30). My department is represented on the Action Plan 2018 - 2022 inter-departmental working group, and has responsibility for several key deliverables identified in the action plan, such as the development of dedicated coordinator posts for Irish language in the early years sector.
It must be noted that the availability or otherwise of some essential training through Irish (such as FAR First Aid Training, HACCP, Manual Handling training) is not a matter for my Department. However, some training is taking place through Irish language medium in these areas on a local level, in some cases supported by local City / County Childcare Committees, in some cases by organisations such as Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta (CNNG).
CNNG provide my Department’s programme of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training through the medium of Irish. My department is in consultation with Mary Immaculate College / University of Limerick to explore the possibility of provision of the LINC (Leadership for Inclusion) programme through Irish.
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is not aware of specialist courses in immersion methodology for childcare practitioners and directors of naíonraí.
Further education programmes for the early years sector in Ireland are awarded by QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) at levels 5 or 6 on the NFQ (National Framework of Qualifications). Degree programmes are offered by Higher Education Institutions at level 7 or level 8 on the NFQ (ordinary level and honours level degree programmes respectively).
The QQI major award in Early Childhood Care and Education (NFQ level 5) comprises 8 modules, with 4 core modules which are mandatory. Each module is a minor award in itself. There are up to 14 modules which learners may choose from to make up the entire major award, of which “Irish for Pre-school Services” is one.
The cost of providing early years sector workers with an opportunity to complete the “Irish for Pre-school Services” level 5 award module as a supplementary award can be estimated as not less than €8.75 million. However, it is unlikely that this figure would represent the whole cost. As availability of the “Irish for Pre-school Services” level 5 minor award to learners is currently very limited, it is possible that additional costs would be incurred in order to increase availability of the programme of learning. Rapid expansion of provision would potentially lead to concerns about the quality of delivery, would require coordination with education providers and necessitate a long lead-in time.
The cost of providing a specific programme of learning in Irish language and immersion education for students of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) degree programmes (awards at Level 7 and Level 8 on the NFQ) is not known and cannot be estimated. Extensive consultation with the education providers would be required. Also, my Department does not have figures on the current numbers of students of ECEC degree programmes.
An alternative would be to tailor other programmes of learning in Irish language and culture for the early years sector. Based on the costs of current programmes, costs would be not less than €11 million (for the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge [TEG]) or €18.6 million (based on the QQI level 5 minor award in Irish offered by Gaelchultúr). Again, it is likely there would be issues surrounding availability of courses, quality of provision and also the need to tailor programmes for the Early Years sector.
