Vol. 539 No. 1
403 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 558 of 12 June 2001, he will indicate the part of the outline development which is to take place at the Cork Road campus; the development which is to take place at the Carriganore site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18611/01]
The next phase of the development plan for Waterford Institute of Technology is a catering and tourism building and an information technology building, both of which will be located at the Cork Road campus. Waterford Institute of Technology recently submitted a feasibility study for the lands at Carriganore, County Waterford, and the report is currently under consideration by officials of my Department.
At this time it is not possible to definitively say what facilities will be developed at the Carriganore site.
404 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals he has to immediately implement the recommendations of the Interim Review Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18612/01]
On 11 June last, I commenced the remaining parts of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999, and launched the two new awarding councils, the Further Education and Training Awards Council and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council. The principal functions of the two new councils are the establishment of policies and criteria for the making of awards and the validation of programmes; the determination of standards of knowledge, skill or competence to be acquired by learners, before an award may be made by a council or recognised by a council and the making and recognition of awards where people have achieved the required standards as set out.
The Interim Review Group, chaired by Professor Dervilla Donnelly conducted a review, in relation to the delegation of authority to make awards, in the Cork Institute of Technology, Waterford Institute of Technology, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and Sligo Institute of Technology. Section 29(8) of the Act enables me as Minister to give effect to the recommendations of the review group as regards these institutes of technology. In this context, my Department has invited submissions from these institutes and other interested parties about certain important matters in relation to the implementation of the recommendations of the review group. Following consideration of these submissions, it is my intention to direct the Higher Education and Training Awards Council and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland to implement the recommendations of the review group.
