Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 475: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 4 December 2008, the State agency which will be assigned the role of regulator for international education provision; the person who will be responsible for such regulation within the chosen agency; when the chosen State agency will assume these responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45890/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is my intention that the qualifications body which will arise from the amalgamation of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council and the Further Education and Training Awards Council should take on responsibility for providing the regulatory framework for the provision of international education programmes.

In the interim, I have asked the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland to take on responsibilities in this area, including for the maintenance of the "internationalisation register" of education programmes which is currently maintained in my Department. Transferring this important area of work is the subject of detailed discussions between my officials and the NQAI, and these discussions include the issue raised by the Deputy regarding who within the organisation will have responsibility for this body of work. I would estimate that the agency will assume these duties in the latter half of 2009.