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Quality and Qualifications Ireland Remit

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 November 2013

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Questions (58)

Derek Nolan

Question:

58. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been a reduction in the number of students enrolling in FETAC courses this year; if training fund reductions are responsible for this drop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47291/13]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, the awards formerly made by FETAC have been made by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) since its establishment in November 2012. QQI makes further education and training awards to a large and diverse range of providers, including large bodies such as SOLAS as well as small private providers of education and training.

QQI does not collect statistics centrally on the number of persons enrolled in programmes leading to their awards. That is a matter for the providers themselves. It is therefore impossible to say whether overall enrolments in 2013 are less than 2012. QQI only becomes involved when they are approached to provide awards to learners. Overall statistics on the awards made for 2013 will be available in 2014.

Figures for 2012 show that FETAC made awards to approximately 170,000 learners, compared with approximately 180,000 in 2011. However, the number of major awards increased from 37,857 to 42,593 in the same period.

With regard to funding, the amount allocated from the National Training Fund has been €362 million for each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Budget 2014 maintained this funding level.

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