Mr. Andy Pike:

I will give a brief answer and then hand over to anyone else who has a view. The Minister of State was very fair in her comments to the committee. We welcome the commitment to discuss proactively and, I hope, pursue and obtain accreditation for the UCD course. We welcome her comments around the need to review the minimum essential qualification. The concerns we have are that getting the Department of Education to do anything is extremely difficult. The Department reflects the current academic snobbery that has been mentioned around SNAs. Because it is not a graduate profession, they do not worry about them. I accept the sentiments and bona fides of the Minister of State. The problem we are going to have is dragging the Department of Education into a space where it will actually deliver. That is the concern I have. Colleagues may have something to add.