Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2015
472. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the number of places available on third level nursing courses for students who complete pre-nursing Further Education and Training Awards Council courses; if he is satisfied that there are enough places at third level to accommodate these students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33985/15]
View answerThe matter raised by the Deputy is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.
However, I would like to advise the Deputy that Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI ) was established in 2012 as a new integrated quality assurance agency replacing FETAC and a number of other agencies. QQI makes awards based on standards it has developed or has inherited from the former Further Education and Training Awards Council or the former Higher Education and Training Awards Council.
Most institutions offering the pre-registration honours degree programmes in nursing/midwifery consider specific Level 5 and some Level 6 awards as an equivalent (i.e. equivalent to the Leaving Certificate Examination) entry route for applicants to nursing/midwifery, using the CAO application process. Each independent Higher Educational Institute individually determines the number of places available, within their capacity, from such courses to the undergraduate and midwifery programmes.
