Katherine Zappone (Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State. I have a question on the naming of providers. When we discussed the Bill on Second Stage, I raised the issue of how it would recognise the community and voluntary sector, that is, community education organisations which operate alongside the VECs and statutory education bodies. As the Minister of State will know, the providers listed in the section can seek validation of their education programmes directly from the authority. Community education providers are not included in the list, unless it is intended to include them within section 39(7)(g) wich states: "a recognised school in so far as the school provides adult, continuing or vocational education or training which leads to an award...". As he may be aware, approximately 22% of FETAC providers are in the community and voluntary sector, which is significant, compared with a figure of 35% for the VECs, 25% for FÁS and 18% for private providers. I seek clarification from him that following implementation of the Bill the process of validating programmes will continue for community education organisations, in other words, that they will continue to have their programmes directly validated by the new authority.