Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that pending the establishment of a new qualifications agency and the development of new quality assurance guidelines and programme validation criteria, FETAC has decided not to process current applications for provider registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28342/11]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons for the delay in a particular application to FETAC to become an accredited provider (details supplied) under its regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28343/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together.

Legislation providing for the dissolution of the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) and its amalgamation with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) was published in July 2011 and is currently progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas. In order to manage the transition of functions to the new amalgamated agency, FETAC has decided that no new applications for provider registration will be accepted. Applications for provider registration that have already been received by FETAC will be further processed if they have progressed past the initial 'expression of interest' stage of the registration process. FETAC is contacting the providers concerned, including the provider referred to by the Deputy.