Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason FETAC is carrying out audits at some FÁS centres; when the process is expected to finish; the outcome of such audits to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46683/10]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the precise number of individual cases which were the subject of the recent FÁS communication to FETAC regarding certification queries from the northeast; the reason the communication took place; the FETAC response to same; the outcome since in the North East; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46679/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 13 together.

I understand that FÁS is making progress in the implementation of its new Training Standards System and is dealing with the backlog of certificates due to qualifying learners. During this exercise in the North East Region, significant processing issues in respect of a small number of courses were identified by FÁS giving rise to errors on certificate requests for 53 learners on 6 courses. No certificates had issued to learners. However, as a result of these issues, FÁS decided to undertake a more detailed review.

I understand that FÁS informed FETAC on 10 November of the issues identified. FETAC are now conducting an examination of the issues with FÁS, involving visits to all FÁS centres that request certificates from FETAC. Pending the finalisation of their examination and to ensure that errors do not occur on certificates, FETAC have decided to place a temporary hold on issuing certificates to FÁS learners in respect of award types which may be subject to the errors encountered. It is expected that the FETAC examination will be concluded later this month.