David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 667: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the differences that exist between the grading systems and presentation of results by the course providers, such as FÁS and vocational educational committees, of FETAC level two in child care; the reason these differences exist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19343/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Further Education and Training Awards Council, FETAC, was established on 11 June 2001 under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999. It is the single national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland, and is now responsible for making awards that were previously made by CERT, now Fáilte Ireland, FÁS, the National Council for Vocational Awards, NCVA, Teagasc and the National Council for Education Awards, foundation certificate.

On establishment, FETAC, in agreement with the former awarding bodies, FÁS, Fáilte Ireland, Teagasc, NCVA and BIM, adopted a transition phase. This included the adoption of the policies and procedures of the above bodies, thus enabling ongoing award development. The Act provided for a period of five years' transition to full implementation of FETAC's functions. This allowed time for the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, NQAI, to establish a national framework of qualifications and for FETAC to develop its own policies and procedures consistent with the Act and the new framework.

During this time the processes and procedures of the former awarding bodies have continued. Thus, the procedures for grading and presentation of results by providers such as FÁS and the VECs have continued to operate as formerly constituted by those bodies prior to the establishment of FETAC. These processes will continue until FETAC introduces new awards from 2006 which will be underpinned by new standards and assessment policies as devised by FETAC.

FETAC has adopted a phased approach to the introduction of planned changes to the awarding systems. This first phase of development was the placement of all existing and former awards made by the former awarding bodies at a level on the new framework of qualifications. This placement process was completed in early 2005 and all details regarding the placement are available on the FETAC website at www.fetac.ie. Further planned changes will include the development of common processes for devising standards, assessing and monitoring programmes of further education and training.