Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the question of different providers paying into different insurance funds, that actually dilutes the fund. It gives fewer options then to place students in providers outside the scheme. If an event happens, QQI will do its level best to ensure that students affected get the programme they need from other providers within that insurance piece.

While this is good legislation, we have had problems and everything is not rosy in the garden. There is one main provider of insurance in this sector which has worked. However, QQI has gone in on many occasions to sort out problems for students. The international reputation of Irish education is tarnished as a result.

Administration costs will be paid from the fund. The fund can be reinsured if QQI feels it needs to be done. The Exchequer can resource the funds. It does not have to but the provision is in the legislation if it is necessary. It would be refunded over time by future provider contributions.

On the point about a larger college failing, QQI will be able to offer the students of that academic year another course. If we were not to have this legislation, it would be ten times worse. We have a good and well-resourced protection of enrolled learners, PEL, fund. That is much better than where we are at the moment.

A provider does not have to pay if it is less than three months, if it is being delivered and they are students of education and training board, ETB, colleges. The community and voluntary sector does not need to pay to the PEL fund.

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