Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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362. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the opportunities for the vocational education committees to participate in the hospitality industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35126/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Education and Training Boards (ETBs) formerly Vocational Education Committees are already involved in providing hospitality courses as part of their further education programmes. The Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme and the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) offer a number of hospitality courses on a full or part-time basis at levels 3 to 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). SOLAS, the new education and training authority, is being established as a funding and oversight body under the aegis of my Department to ensure the provision of 21st century high-quality further education and training programmes to learners. Section 9 of the Further Education and Training Bill 2013 provides that SOLAS, once established, will prepare and submit to the Minister, a strategy in respect of further education and training. SOLAS will promote Further Education and Training provision that is relevant to individual learner needs and national skills needs, this includes the needs of business and future skills needs.