Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if staff at University College Dublin were aware of the plans to downgrade the postgraduate diploma in education from level 9 to level 8 when students were applying for entry to the course through the postgraduate applications centre in 2010 for entry in 2011. [30829/11]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the views of students who believe they have been misled when enrolling in the level 9 postgraduate diploma in education in University College Dublin when plans were in place to downgrade the exam to level 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30830/11]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the decision was taken to downgrade the postgraduate diploma in education at University College Dublin from level 9 to level 8; the reason this decision imposed on students after they had enrolled in the course and paid registration fees; and his views on students affected by this decision and who feel the course they are studying has been badly devalued. [30925/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 153, 154 and 158 together.

Universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997. My Department does not have any function in relation to their academic affairs, including decisions concerning course provision or consultation processes with students or staff members. I understand that following detailed consultation between the Irish universities and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland in the context of the ongoing process of implementing the National Framework of Qualifications, the universities have agreed that the initial post-primary teaching qualification, hitherto known as the Higher Diploma in Education and latterly as the Graduate or Postgraduate Diploma in Education, is to be formally included in the National Framework of Qualifications at Level 8 with immediate effect. The universities and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland have issued a joint communication with further information on the context for the decision. That statement is available at www.nqai.ie/documents/ProfessionalDiplomainEducationcommunication.pdf.

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