Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:218 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education if she intends granting recognition to the Irish Board of Speech and Drama under the NCEA. [24323/96]
Written Answers. - Irish Board of Speech and Drama.
The White Paper on Education Charting our Education Future identified the need for a more coherent and effective system of certification for the extra-university sector of higher education. In response to this need, the Irish National Certification Authority, TEASTAS, was established on an interim basis in September, 1995. One of the terms of reference for TEASTAS is:
to advise the Minister on actions to be undertaken in the interim prriod and, where appropriate, to undertake any such actions which it considers necessary to assist in putting in place a single, nationally and internationally accepted, certification structure covering all extra-university third level and all further and continuing education and training programmes including advice on the plans, programmes and budgets necessary for the carrying out of the function of TEASTAS as decided by the Government.
The designation and accreditation process for private colleges operated through the NCEA has been put in abeyance pending receipt of proposals from TEASTAS in regard to this issue in the context of an overall national qualifications framework.