Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2010

Tuesday, 18 May 2010

Ceisteanna (508)

Mary Upton

Ceist:

544 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reasons a college of further education (details supplied) in Dublin 18 is not recognised as being accredited to deliver courses to Higher Certificate Level Six and Honours Degree Level Eight, even though the awards currently granted by the college are from Edexcel in the UK; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the college has already met the quality assurance requirements of Higher Education and Training Awards Council, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin City University and Dundee University, Scotland and that the college is recognised as delivering innovative courses which have contributed to the recent success in the Oscars; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20458/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Seán Haughey)

The College referred to by the Deputy is operated by City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee (CDVEC) and funded by my Department under the Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) Scheme as an approved PLC centre. Under the terms and conditions of the PLC Scheme, courses provided by approved PLC centres must be at FETAC Level 5 or 6 or equivalent.

In respect of this approved PLC centre, my Department has facilitated the running of a course which is accredited by Dundee University as the equivalent of a Level 8 award on the National Framework of Qualifications (Honours Bachelor Degree/Higher Diploma) for the last number of years and continues to do so as an exceptional measure.

It is open to this PLC centre to offer courses certified by other awarding bodies but these courses will not be funded by my Department unless they fulfil the terms and conditions of the PLC scheme.