John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 494 of 4 October 2005, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Sligo took up a level 8 higher diploma in NUIG as advised in her reply; if she will ensure that the application is approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18866/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I presume the Deputy is referring to an application for a place on a Post-Graduate programme for primary teacher training that is provided by a private college.

As I pointed out in my last response in relation to this issue, the college referred to by the Deputy is a privately-owned institution providing a privately-run course which has been accredited by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC). In order for the course to secure HETAC accreditation, the college in question complied with HETAC's quality assurance and validation requirements. The Graduate Diploma conferred at the end of this course is recognised by my Department for the purposes of primary teaching.

If the student in question now meets the required criteria, as published by my Department, (which include an approved level 8 third level degree), and which are common to all Colleges of Education that provide teacher training, it is her responsibility to apply to the college in question for a place on the course.

I do not have a function in the selection process and cannot intervene in this, or any individual case.