Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on fact that two third level science programmes (details supplied) will be delivered at Dundalk Institute of Technology in the academic year 2006-07; the way in which Dundalk Institute of Technology, which has received delegation of authority from HETAC to validate its own courses, can allow such a deception of leaving certificate students and their parents given that these courses have not been processed through the institute's own academic quality assurance procedures; if the circumstances will be addressed where current food science students at Dundalk Institute of Technology, who were recruited, in the current academic year, to what they were told was a bachelor of science in food and health but who find they are attending a certificate in food science whose exact title is a matter of debate and whose content is not validated; the steps she will take to assure current and future students of Dundalk Institute of Technology that programmes and courses offered by the institute will in future be validated by faithful application of the institute's own academic quality assurance procedures. [7537/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The institutes of technology are statutory bodies established under the Regional Technical Colleges Acts 1992 to 2001. Under these Acts, the governance and day-to-day activities of the institutes are matters for which the governing bodies and management staff are responsible.

Under the provisions of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, institutes may seek delegated authority from the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, HETAC, allowing them to validate and make awards in their own right in line with HETAC policy, criteria and procedures. In September 2004, Dundalk Institute of Technology was awarded delegated authority from HETAC to make awards up to and including level 9 on the national framework of qualifications. In accordance with HETAC's delegation of authority, the institute validates all programmes through the established academic quality assurance procedures.

My Department has sought clarification from Dundalk Institute of Technology on the issues raised. I understand the two programmes in question are being validated through the institute's own academic quality assurance procedures and in accordance with the delegation of authority granted by HETAC. In the event of either or both of these programmes not being validated by June 2006, the institute will inform prospective students and advise them of their right to exercise a change of mind option.

I understand the position in regard to students who commenced their studies in food science in the current academic year is that they were offered places on a higher certificate course with the possibility of progressing to add-on ordinary and honours bachelor degrees. I further understand they were informed that an ab initio degree in food science is in the process of being validated and that they would have the option of transferring to this degree course if and when it is validated and approved.

My Department will liaise with the institutes of technology in the coming weeks regarding the approval of their operational programmes and budgets for the next two academic years, 2006-07 and 2007-08.