Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 November 2012
84. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will explain the inspection and monitoring arrangements that are in place in establishments providing FETAC courses to ensure proper standards of course content and delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51788/12]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, FETAC was formally dissolved on 6 November and its functions are now undertaken by the new amalgamated qualifications and quality assurance body, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). While the new agency will, over the coming months, establish its own policies and processes for quality assurance, programme validation and awarding, as well as for its other functions, it is in the meantime applying, on a transitional basis, the processes relating to inspection and monitoring which it has inherited from FETAC and the other legacy bodies.
It is a condition of registration that providers are subject to monitoring. FETAC's (now QQI's) monitoring process consists of the monitoring of provider documentation, site visits and reporting on the effectiveness of providers' quality systems with follow up and reviews. The process involves a review of the provider's quality system and identifies good practice and areas for improvements as appropriate. A standard monitoring report is completed by the monitor and when complete is published on the FETAC website. As well as monitoring the effectiveness of the overall quality assurance arrangements of registered providers, QQI's transitional processes also involve the examination of course content and delivery through the advance validation of individual programmes of education and training leading to its awards.
