Written answers

Wednesday, 1 June 2016

Department of Education and Skills

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter regarding an organisation (details supplied) which has been accepting applications for places on Safe Pass tutor accreditation programmes since 2014, despite stating in 2014, 2015 and 2016 in response to inquiries that it had no plans to run such a programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13914/16]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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SOLAS have advised that it is a requirement that any candidates who wish to apply for inclusion on the Safe Pass Tutor accreditation programme, must meet with the specified criteria and be approved by the Stakeholder Committee, before being scheduled for tutor training. Places cannot be offered to candidates until they have been approved by the Stakeholder Committee.

Stakeholder Committee meetings took place in February, 2014 and again in October and December 2015. None of the applicants met with the criteria and as a result a Safe Pass tutor accreditation programme did not take place. SOLAS has advised that there has been no reduction in the provision of SOLAS Safe Pass courses, that provision is delivered on demand, and current capacity has been sufficient to do so.

SOLAS is currently accepting applications from suitably qualified candidates for Safe Pass Tutor training and any person or persons wishing to apply for this training may contact SOLAS to obtain an application form. The next meeting of the Stakeholder Committee will take place early next month and will inform the decision as to whether or not, there are sufficient numbers to schedule a tutor accreditation programme.

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