Last week there was some good news for childcare workers. Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, launched the €3m Learner Fund, which will support staff in early years services who need to upskill to meet new qualification requirements that were announced last year.

The new requirements state that by September 2015 all staff working with children in early years services are required to have a minimum Level 5 NFQ (National Qualifications Framework) qualification in early years care and education, or an equivalent.

By the same date, preschool leaders delivering the free Pre-school Year Scheme programme should possess a minimum Level 6 qualification, or equivalent. The Learner Fund will provide funding for a two-year period and will subsidise the cost for eligible learners to undertake accredited Level 5 and Level 6 FETAC courses. Training courses subsidised by this fund are expected to commence in September 2014.

It is advised that those interested should apply fast as the Learner Fund is limited and applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Confirmation of the outcome of applications is expected in June 2014. The fund will be administered by Pobal with the help of local childcare committees. A link to the application form will be available on the County Childcare Committee and Pobal websites.

To be eligible, candidates must currently be working with children in a registered early years service and meet the criteria for the Learner Fund, which will be set out in the application process. Application forms will be accepted for the next four weeks.

Some exemptions have been made to the requirements. The Minster has agreed to waive the minimum Level 5 requirements for a small number of staff who will be leaving the sector within the next seven years – between September 2015 and September 2022.

Many of the staff working in the sector have older qualifications awarded before the National Qualifications Framework system was introduced. The Minster has indicated that where an existing qualification has previously been accepted by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, as meeting the Level 5 or Level 6 requirements, it will be recognised as fulfilling the specified level for the purposes of the new qualification requirements.

Anyone unsure of the level of their qualification should contact the institution that awarded it or email quals@dcya.gov.ie to resolve any queries.