New €3 million training fund for childcare workers

Issued : Wednesday 26 March, 2014

Cllr. Jack Walsh, The Labour Party, has welcomed the announcement by Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, of a fund of €3 million over two years to support staff in early years services who need to up-skill to meet new qualification requirements.

“Improved staff training will improve the standard of our childcare services” Cllr. Walsh said. It will also benefit the childcare staff by providing FETAC accredited training to Level 5 and 6 and enable them to meet new the new standards. The training will be provided by approved training providers.

The ‘Learner Fund’, which will be administered by Pobal with the help of local City and County Childcare Committees, will provide funding for a two-year period specifically to assist existing childcare staff working directly with children in registered early years services.

“This is great news for staff and families” Cllr. Jack Walsh believes.