Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

Section 39 sets out the procedure for how a provider may apply to the authority for validation of a programme of education and training. This is open to all providers of education. The list to which the Senator referred is a list of providers which have no option but to apply to the authority for validation. All other providers, including community-based providers, may apply to the authority for validation of their programmes, but they are not obliged to do so if they do not want to.

The Senator is correct, the term "education and training" is broad and encompasses a range of education programmes such as adult, continuing, vocational, higher and community-based education. The authority will accept applications for validation of all types of education and training programmes, including community-based education programmes. Programmes being provided in community settings that have already been validated by FETAC will be transferred to the new authority also.