Written answers

Thursday, 9 July 2009

Department of Education and Science

Student Representation

12:00 pm

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1202: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to appoint two student representatives to each of the Higher Education Authority and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29462/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The commitment to appoint a second student representative to the Board of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) is considered when appointments are being made, having regard to the need to ensure an overall balance of stakeholder interests. The HEA engages extensively with student interests as an integral part of its ongoing work and the USI plays an active role in this process and continues to ably represent its constituency.

Section 6 of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999 sets out the composition of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland and provides for one member of the Authority to be representative of learners. As part of the Budget Speech in October 2008, the Minister for Finance announced the Government decision to amalgamate the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland with the Further Education and Training Awards Council and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council. The Department of Education and Science published a consultation paper in May 2009 on the implementation of the Government decision and it proposes a maximum of six members on the board of the new organisation. It proposes that members of the amalgamated organisation would have expertise in key areas but would not be nominated by stakeholders. The paper acknowledges the importance of there being a learner perspective on the board.

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