Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 100: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff currently employed at FETAC in the area of monitoring training providers' compliance with standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40464/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

FETAC monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of each provider's quality assurance system. All FETAC staff have a responsibility to monitor provider activity and a proactive approach to monitoring is taken by staff in all functions of FETAC, including in provider registration and certification and assessment activities supported by external examiners and authenticators. FETAC agrees each provider's procedures for quality assurance and the procedures demonstrate the provider's commitment and capacity to maintain and improve the quality of its programmes and services. Providers are required to develop and document a series of policies and procedures capturing their existing best practice, complemented by an internal monitoring and evaluation system to recognise excellence and facilitate improvement.

Currently there are 1.5 whole time equivalent FETAC staff employed in the area of monitoring provider's compliance with their quality assurance agreements on quality of provision. In 2008 FETAC recruited and trained three contract staff to undertake provider monitoring. The three monitors' contracts expired in early May 2010 and were not renewed due to the moratorium on public sector recruitment. As a result of the non-renewal of the monitors' contracts, FETAC has put in place updated arrangements on provider monitoring. This involves FETAC's dedicated monitoring staff being supported by senior staff and staff working in areas such as provider registration as well as through assistance from experienced external authenticators.