Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are not accepting the amendment. As the QQI certification is for life, there is no impact on those who hold a CSCS or QSCS card. These cards can still be used to apply for third-level courses in lieu of a leaving certificate requirement and, therefore, this legislation will not impact current cardholders.

Furthermore, higher education institutions are autonomous bodies within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts, 1992 to 2006, and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Admission requirements for courses are a matter for the individual institutions to decide and are not a matter for legislation.