Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú:

I have a few clarifications. Students are made aware of appeals at every step and the decision letters quote the next stage of appeals so they are made available. The reason the number of sittings of the appeals board was increased was to ensure the responses were done as quickly as possible. The Ombudsman issue is because of the designation of the VECs under the Ombudsman legislation; it has nothing to do with our legislation. Many of the VECs are not designated under the Ombudsman's legislation. It is only when they are that the Ombudsman can be involved in an appeal. The ETBs will be designated the same. There will be an appeal following the appeals board decision to the Ombudsman.