Dr. Padraig Walsh:

I would like to answer the Deputy's question with regard to the legislation. Currently, the QQI establishment legislation requires a provider to say whether a programme is at a particular level on the national framework of qualifications, or whether it is in the national framework of qualifications. It also requires a provider to say if it is not because we do not completely regulate education and training. People can run programmes. We have all probably attended programmes that were good, but were not necessarily accredited. There is nothing wrong with that.

There is no legislation, however, to say whether a programme is subject to approval for regulatory purposes, and that is something that might be helpful. CORU provides guidance to providers on wording for that, to say, for instance, that this programme is currently in submission to CORU for approval, but that does not mean it will be approved. It is just like saying one is going to sit one's driving test, but that does not mean one is going to pass.