Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 205: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the action she will take regarding a college (details supplied) in Dublin 2 which is not complying with standards set by the Psychological Society of Ireland, leading to withdrawal of their BA degree in psychology, leaving many students with non-credited degrees or unable to complete their degree; under whose remit is this college and other private colleges on the CAO system who have HETAC creditation. [33248/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Professional bodies, such as the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), operate independently in accrediting the programmes of higher education institutions. Such programmes would also have academic accreditation from an awarding body such as a university or the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC). While academic and professional bodies work together to co-ordinate their accreditation activities, it is common for there to be some divergence in requirements.

HETAC accredits a number of programmes offered by the provider in question. All providers offering HETAC awards are subject to external quality assurance review of their institutions. The college in question was recently the subject of an Institutional Review carried out by HETAC, and the report published following this review made several recommendations to the college. The implementation of these recommendations will be monitored by HETAC.

The CAO is a private body and receives no State funding. The higher education institutions have delegated to the CAO the task of processing centrally applications for admission to their first year undergraduate courses. Neither my Department nor HETAC has any role to play in relation to the operation of the CAO.

As the provider in question receives no state funding, my Department does not have a direct role in this matter. I understand that HETAC has played a key role in making alternative arrangements available to the students involved.