Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

The Bill provides for an eight-person board, which will include an international representative and also a representative of learners. It has been decided to move away from the stakeholder nomination model which applies to the National Institute of Quality Assurance, NIQA, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, HETAC, and the Further Education and Training Awards Council, FETAC, as it would be difficult to maintain the board at an effective size without leaving some fundamental gaps in representation. I am committed to strong learner involvement at all levels of the quality assurance process. In formulating the new entity, SOLAS, Seirbhísí Oideachais Leanunaigh agus Scileanna, we are exploring many different mechanisms for ensuring there will be significant learner involvement across that organisation as well.

Student involvement is critical to the successful operation of quality assurance processes within institutions and the authority. The Bill specifically provides that institutional quality assurance procedures should include evaluation by learners of the education and training provided to them. Having a learner representative on the board of the authority is important and ensures the student perspective is provided at that level. However, this is only part of how learners will engage with the authority once it is constituted. Students will be involved in the committees and the many panels established by the authority. The authority will adopt a strong consultative approach and will engage formally and informally with a wide range of stakeholders, including learners. This will be the most appropriate and effective means by which learners can ensure their interests are promoted, particularly given the broad range of sectors covered by the authority's functions. One student representative on an eight person board is sufficient to give that learner perspective at that level. Accordingly, I cannot support the amendment.