Jim O'Keeffe
Question:149 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the role, function and membership of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council; and the person by whom they have been appointed. [21715/03]
Written Answers. - Higher Education and Training Awards Council.
The Qualifications (Education and Training Act) 1999 provided for the establishment of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland and the Further and Higher Education and Training Awards Councils for the accreditation of non-university education and training awards at further and higher levels. The role of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council is to establish policies and criteria for the making of higher education and training awards and the validation of programmes, to determine the standards of knowledge skills and competencies to be acquired by learners for an award, to make or recognise awards, and to monitor the quality of programmes, ensuring that providers have procedures for assessment of learners which are fair and consistent.
Section 22 of the Act stipulates the membership of the council, and the relevant nominating bodies. The current members of the council are shown below together with their nominating body. Professor Ciaran Murphy, chairperson of HETAC, appointed by the Minister following consultation with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Minister for Agriculture and Food and the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, under section 49 and section 22(2)(a) of the Act; Mr. Seamus Puirseil, chief executive officer of HETAC, appointed by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, under section 51 (i) and section 22(2)(b) of the Act; Mr. Stan McHugh, chief executive officer of FETAC, appointed by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, under section 51(i) and section 22(2)(c) of the Act; Mr Diarmuid Hegarty, Griffith College, and Ms Maria Horan, HIS College, appointed by the Minister for Education and Science under section 22(2)(d) of the Act, as being representative of providers other than recognised institutions; Ms Kay Halahan, FORFAS, nominated by the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment under section 22(2)(e); Dr. Pat Kelleher, Cork Institutute of Technology; Dr. Danny Brennan, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, and Dr. Mary Meaney, ITB, nominated by recognised institutions under section 22(2)(f); Ms Brighid Breathnach, Union of Students of Ireland, nominated by the Minister as being representative of learners under section 22(2)(g); Mr. Ed Riordan, Cork Institute of Technology, nominated by the Minister as being representative of employees of recognised institutions under section 22(2)(i); Mr. Peter Rigney*, ICTU, nominated by the Irish Congress of trade Unions; Mr. Paddy Murray*, ex-Guinness Ireland Group, nominated by the Irish Business and Employers' Confederation; Dr. Charles Cook+, Director NEASC Boston; and Ms Dorte Kristoffersen+, nominated by the council under section 22(2)(k) and 22(3), in January 2002 and June 2002 respectively, with a special knowledge and experience of the functions of the council, at least one of whom shall have relevant international experience related to those functions.
All the members of the council, with the exception of those at *and +, were appointed when the council was established in June 2001 by the then Minister for Education, Dr. Michael Woods. The persons at * have taken up their role subsequent to July 2002 as replacements for members who had resigned.