Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in approving FETAC courses; the way that he intends to address this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55178/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, FETAC was formally dissolved on 6 November when I established the new amalgamated qualifications and quality assurance body, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), which involved the amalgamation of FETAC with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC).

Significant work was undertaken by those bodies on the necessary core administrative preparations for the establishment of the new Authority. However, the establishment of QQI also involves the amalgamation of processes, including ones that have operated differently in the different agencies due to the history and nature of the different sectors. This will require the reconfiguration of current services such as the registration process for new providers, the validation and accreditation of programmes, the monitoring and review of providers and the development, review and certification of awards. This will include the development of formal guidelines, criteria and procedures pursuant to the new Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012.

It is anticipated that new applications will be accepted by QQI from Spring 2013.