Dr. Padraig Walsh:

I can come in with a response here. This was the case of the programme which has been withdrawn by the private higher education institution.

A total of 84 learners were affected. When that happens in a private institution, it triggers what is called a protection for enrolled learners. QQI would have validated the original academic programme and looked at that. Our responsibility then is to work with other providers to see if the students can be transferred on or to see what accommodation can be come to with the colleges. Of those 84 students, 50 accepted a refund of their fees; eight transferred to another private college, which is one of the only ones that offered a part-time programme; ten transferred to a full-time course that offers the same qualification, and both this and the part-time programme have been approved by CORU; eight transferred to other programmes which would not allow them to become social care workers but in many cases people are happy to receive a degree, which can allow them to do other things; and six had been offered a refund and we are waiting to see what they will do. We work carefully with the college and all of that to ensure many of those people were able to go on and we hope they will be able to complete programmes.