Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 684: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will increase the student representation of the Higher Education Authority and the NQAI; his views on whether the greater the student voice the more democratic these bodies are and the more reflective they are in the needs of students and the education system as a whole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22972/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The commitment under the Programme for Government to appoint a further student representative to the HEA can be accommodated under existing legislation and will be considered when future vacancies arise. The HEA engages extensively with student interests as an integral part of its work. The USI plays an active role in this process and continues to ably represent its constituency.

The composition of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is set out in Section 6 of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, and provides for one representative of learners. The Authority is committed to working in a participative manner and engages extensively with student and other stakeholder interests as an integral part of its work, through a variety of consultative fora.

I do not accept that democratic and participative working depends on high volumes of membership on boards. Under Section 8 of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, there is a legal requirement on the Authority, in carrying out its functions to consult with representatives of learners and other interests. In addition, the publication Policies and Criteria for the establishment of the National Framework of Qualifications (October 2003) commits the Authority to core values of Equality and Accessibility, Transparency and Simplicity, and to Consultation and Inclusiveness in its ongoing work. This is seen as essential to secure ownership and successful implementation of the framework and in line with best management practice in ensuring the centrality of the learner in the overall system.