Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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38. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was refused entry to a Level 5 certificate in health care support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7464/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The aim of the Healthcare Support Program is to enable the learner to develop the knowledge, skill and competencies to work as part of a multidisciplinary team in the provision of effective and appropriate healthcare supports to clients in a variety of settings. On successful completion of the programme, learners may progress to further education and training or to employment.

Potential participants must satisfy a number of qualifying criteria including having reached a minimum of a FETAC Level 4 Major Award or its equivalent. The person concerned has not reached the FETAC level of qualification required. The Case Officer in the Department’s INTREO office in Letterkenny discussed a number of possible training options with the person concerned. These options would enable her to achieve a FETAC level that would subsequently enable her to participate in the Healthcare Support Programme. However the person concerned did not wish to avail of these opportunities.