Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
ABOUT 630 EXISTING childcare staff will undertake extra training this year as a result of a new funding allocation of €900,000.
Announcing the monetary boost for the sector today, Minister Frances Fitzgerald said it will provide subsidised support to allow the staff to fulfill imminent qualification requirements.
A further €1.5 million will be provided in 2014 for upskilling and further training.
The pre-school childcare sector has been going through numerous reforms since a Prime Time investigation highlighted widespread problems within creches.
Responding to the programme, the government implemented a Pre-School Quality Agenda, which has seen 1,672 inspection reports uploaded to the Pobal website.
Fitzgerald said that the HSE are at an “advanced stage” of recruiting five more inspectors in areas where gaps were identified, including Louth, Dublin South/Wicklow, Cavan/Monaghan and Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan.
She said the agenda represents a “building block towards the possible introduction of a second universal free pre-school year” which she has championed.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Don’t we already give financial “assistance” to a large number of these creche groups who in turn make a tidy profit.
Why are we training their staff?
Most of them barely make a profit. The staff are paid a pittance. The large chains like Giraffe and Kids Inc are owned by developers and accountants who are hardly going to help others.
Many creches are non-profit making. As there is no mandatory training level required as yet would you not prefer to have your children minded by trained staff? I would.
Hang on a second here lad, the prices are outrageous for childcare and you say they’re not turning much of a profit and they’re not paying their staff a fortune so where is the money going then? Are they feeing the kids caviare in them?
Heating (crèches like nursing homes always have to be kept warm), insurance costs, having prescribed staff numbers required (eg five kids = one staff member – I’m not sure what the actual ratio is, 5 is a guess), rents.
That’s some of the costs off the top of my head – it is conceivable that little profit is made, at least – at the decent crèches anyway..
No one is denying they should be trained but why are we paying for it? My sister works in a Creche. She put herself through college to do so. My child was in Crèche full time last year and we were paying €900 per month for it and that’s actually a reasonable price as other places were charging €1,000 +. With these kind of charges why should tax payers pay for people to be trained?
Because some people can’t afford it and of they don’t do the course they lose their jobs!!! Is that what you want??
The crèche can pay for it? Are you saying it is reasonable for me to pay €900 a month for my child to go to crèche as I HAVE to work and I then have to pay for the training of the person who is minding him? Also I went to get my degree as a mature student. It cost me nearly €10,000 over four years. I had to get loans to pay for it to further my career. No one paid for it for me. I’m still paying back the loans but it was for my benefit so I was better at my job so why should anyone else have paid it for me? I love the crèche my child is in and am very grateful for the care they give him but I am already paying enough for the service. I shouldn’t have to pay twice.
I can’t afford to train to be a doctor. Should I get money off the government to do so?
They should be sacked if they are not qualified to work with kids. If primary school teachers were not qualified, would you be happy? A pre school is not just a child minding service, children are taught to a standard before they start primary school
Exactly, places are charging astronomically high fees and now the government are funding training? Ridiculous. Giraffe got grants of over €300k a couple of years ago and turned over a massive profit. It’s madness
Can every Irish person not apply for a grant to study at least one course in Ireland???? Yes, yes they can so stop begrudging the Childcare workers on minimum wage who mostly study at night and work during the day. Irish people have very short memories. The crèches make the money not the staff
Apply to susi like everyone else
You are clearly not reading what I am saying. There are a lot of privately owned crèches. They make a lot of money. I am well aware that Childcare workers don’t earn a lot of money, as I said my sister is one. If that is the career someone has chosen then they should pay for the training themselves or discuss payment with their employers. It is not the tax payers that should be paying for it. If that is the case then why don’t they pay for everyone’s training? It doesn’t make any sense.
And is this how this funding will work rach? Will it have the same criteria as a normal susi grant? I highly doubt it. As far as I know you can’t work full time and apply to the government to pay for your training. There are people on the dole that can’t get the government to pay for training.
I am hearing what you are saying but I am allowed my own opinion and I happen to disagree with you, no where in the article does it say money is going to private crèches , however the gov have changed the law so that everyone must be qualified. What if you can’t afford this training yourself??? Your sister paid for her own as did I but I know people who cannot do this so the require help from the government and at least it’s €9000000 that the banks won’t get
I don’t know how it will work but if Childcare workers don’t do these courses they will lose their jobs because the gov has changed the rules. And you can’t say they should already be trained because some of the most fantastic people have years of experience that no certificate in Childcare can give.
That’s life. I worked with gas for the last 10 years. I had to do 2 courses at a cost of 2500 to continue working in the industry. The government brought in new regs. If your not qualified you shouldn’t be in the industry. These childcare Montessori courses have been around decades so there’s no excuse.
I know about the rule changes Rach. The point is that, as Niall has said, this has happened in numerous professions and the employee has always been responsible for paying their way. Remains to be seen how it will be allocated and that’s the most important issue. As far as I’m concerned, taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for people in full time employment to be trained.
Taught to a standard are you kidding. Check out the academic standard of those taking FETAC level 5 childcare courses . No way would I want them teaching my children.
People from all walks of life are training. Looking through posts there an awful lot of differing opinions on this subject. Training – necessary/unnecessary, common sense?, experience etc. Our children are our most important possessions (and do not say they are not possessions – it is only words). Anyone who feels strongly enough should contact Dept.
Are pre-schools not a private business??
If they are, why the hell is the government funding their staff training .
If the can’t afford to run and train their staff appropriately, then don’t open.
They , not the.
No!
Those company’s who charge excess of 600 a month should not be given any of the money.
You really need to find better crèches, most charge €30 a day, shop around
Sigh ! Wat a gov lickspittle arse u are Ken, or whatever your real name is ?? It’s obvious your anonymous twitter account is the result of a pathetic gov spin effort ! As is obvious from your other, not in the least bit relevant !! Comment on the new Ryanair website, and I quote ” what a fantastic non unionised company ” Do you really think your pathetic comments have any influence on any intelligent reader ??? Jesus Wept !!
This government just keeps on giving
Sigh ! Wat a gov lickspittle arse u are Ken, or whatever your real name is ?? It’s obvious your anonymous twitter account is the result of a pathetic gov spin effort ! As is obvious from your other, not in the least bit relevant !! Comment on the new Ryanair website, and I quote ” what a fantastic non unionised company ” Do you really think your pathetic comments have any influence on any intelligent reader ??? Jesus Wept !
Early Childhood Care & Education
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This one-year full-time Childcare Course is designed to equip learners to work as members of a professional team in a variety of childcare settings. The course covers all aspects of working with children. It will suit both school leavers and mature students who are interested in working with children.
COURSE CONTENTS
o Child Development
o Early Care and Education Practice
o Early Childhood Education & Play
o Child Health & Well Being
o Children with Additional Needs
o Infant & Toddler Years
o Creative Arts for Early Childhood
o Irish for Pre-school Services
o Communications
o Work Experience
DURATION
One year
MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
o Leaving Certificate / Leaving Certificate Applied or equivalent
o Mature students
o Places will be allocated on the basis of Interview
CERTIFICATION
o FETAC Level 5 Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education 5M2009
o First Aid Certificate
o Manual Handling Certificate
WORK EXPERIENCE
Work Experience is an integral part of this course. The dates and duration will be specified by the College. Students spend four days a week in College and one day a week on practical work placement.
PROGRESSION
The full FETAC Level 5 award facilitates entry, on a competitive basis, to a range of third-level institutions nationwide. Further details are available from the relevant institutions.
CAREER PROSPECTS
o Crèche Assistant
o Nursery Assistant
o Playschool Assistant
o Childminder
o Special Needs Assistant
Note: This course requires participants to be Garda vetted. Continued participation on the course and work placement is dependent on the successful completion of this process.
The question i have is; are all these courses so useless that additional funding is needed?
Funding is required because pay scales are so low in this sector that potential/current staff need assistance with fees. Government/we will get it back in tax etc. Our children will benefit. having taken courses with Early Childhood Ireland I believe they are worth every euro spent. Look after the poorly paid for a change and not the fat cats.
It can cost up to€1000 for someone to take this course, unfortunately some people can’t afford this thus the funding is needed!! Apart from that all Childcare workers must be fully qualified by end of 2014
I have two kids that went to both crèches and childminders over the years, as far as I’m concerned you can have all the qualifications in the world but not be suitable to work with children, you need to have endless patients, have a very caring nature and love kids, no qualification will give you that!!
As a retired Childminder of 22yrs., I couldn’t agree more.
I totally agree. They can have all the diplomas etc and still not be able to care for children.
It is such a shame to see children in the creches – like chickens cooped up all day.
Paying a fortune for child care and then get told this is what equality looks like.
I agree that it takes a person with a child friendly temperament and one who has basic common sense to work in a creche. One also needs a knowledge of Child Development and a knowledge of Caring for Children. Children should have fresh air everyday – I think it is mandatory. With training the worker can make the day interesting and developmentally positive for the child as well as provide a good quality of care. If you see something you do not like report it asap – it is your DUTY if you care for children.
The Irish children are certainly a great money making commodity.
have your say