Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I commend her and the Department on setting this up. Education is very important. It has to be valued in its own right in what it does for the individual as well as the continuing professional development. Everybody in the education world needs the opportunity as there are always new things to learn. I appreciate that there will be a review of this first programme and the outcomes, but it is very important for those undertaking the course that there be a formal accreditation process and that when the outcomes are reviewed and when the question of accreditation is examined down the line, that it be given retrospectively to those taking the course now. It is important that it is recognised in its own right.