Ms Fiona O'Byrne:

I will deal first with the question about students joining a course.

It is the responsibility of higher education institutions to communicate the accreditation status clearly and transparently to students in advance of them joining courses. The particular challenge at the moment is because accreditation is being introduced for the first time. Higher education institutions need to communicate in advance of students joining and, through that process, to ensure students are fully aware of what is happening.

Regarding access routes, the Minister recently announced the establishment of the national tertiary office, NTO. This office will be managed between the Higher Education Authority and SOLAS. Dr. Fiona Maloney has been appointed director. The national tertiary office is driving out programmes that are co-developed and co-delivered between further education providers - the likes of Ballyfermot - and the higher education providers. The thinking here is if the programmes are developed together to make a smooth continuation pathway, students will be guaranteed progression on to the higher education piece of the programme. Students will be able to begin the programme, probably closer to home, in the further education and training, FET, provider and then have that guaranteed progression and the supports to go alongside it. The first batch of programmes from the NTO are due to commence in September 2023, but it is an area of particular focus for the Department and a priority.