Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
714. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated additional cost of increasing the learner fund to allow all childcare workers currently holding level 5 qualifications to progress to level 6 from September 2020. [18232/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra715. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated additional cost of increasing the learner fund to a level which would allow 50% of childcare workers currently holding level 6 qualifications to progress to level 7 from September 2020. [18233/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 714 and 715 together.
As per Pobal's Annual Early Years Sector Profile Report for 2018/2019, there were estimated to be (following extrapolation of survey data) 26,882 staff working directly with children in early learning and care and school-age childcare services. Of these, it is estimated that 26.8% (7,204) held a level 5 major award as their highest qualification and 41.8% (11,237) held a level 6 major award as their highest qualification. On this basis and if the level of State funding remained the same as the maximum amount of funding available under the current Learner Fund bursary (i.e. a contribution to costs of €750 per student), the additional cost to the Learner Fund would be €5.4m to bring all 7,204 early learning and care practitioners holding a level 5 qualification at the time of the survey up to a Level 6 qualification. To bring 50% of the 11,237 early learning and care practitioners holding a level 6 qualification at the time of the survey up to a Level 7 qualification, the increase in the cost of the Learner Fund (with a bursary of €750 per student) would be €4.214m.
These figures are based on the value of previous Learner Fund bursaries. The full cost of undertaking a Level 6 qualification for a level 5 practitioner is greater than €750, and the cost for a practitioner of undertaking a Level 7 degree is even higher. These costs, which are borne by practitioners, vary depending on a number of factors, including where the individual chooses to undertake their course, as course fees vary. If the State were to meet the full cost for these practitioners of undertaking Level 6 and 7 courses, the costs would be considerably higher than indicated above.
