Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a four day Saorview course can be accredited with a Fetac level 5 qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48145/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I am informed by FETAC that they do not offer an award which would be referred to as a Saorview award, although it is possible that providers could refer to Saorview in promoting programmes of education and training leading to a particular FETAC award.

Regarding the duration of the programme, providers design and deliver programmes which are relevant to the profile of the learner group concerned and which are intended to lead to the learning outcomes associated with the particular award. Therefore programmes of very different length can lead to awards which are placed at the same level of the National Framework of Qualifications, depending on the existing knowledge, skill and competence of the learners and the breadth of knowledge which is required to receive the award. So, for example, both an Honours Bachelor Degree programme with a duration of 4 years and a Higher Diploma programme with a duration of 1 year can lead to awards at Level 8 of the Framework.