Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his legislative proposals to establish a learner protection fund for students of English language schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31128/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I published the General Scheme of a Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Bill on 15 May 2017, following approval by Government.  The General Scheme provides for the protection of enrolled learners through the establishment of a Learner Protection Fund.

This Learner Protection Fund will provide the type of learner protection that was initially envisaged in 2012, when the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act was enacted.

The objective is to prioritise ‘academic bonding’ which will enable students to complete their programme of study in the event that their provider ceases to deliver the programme, rather than ‘financial bonding’.

Financial bonding provides for the refund of fees to students in the event of a programme ceasing to be delivered.  While the recovery of fees is beneficial to students, the more important priority is to support learners to complete their academic programme.

It is the intention that all providers of education and training engaging with the National Framework of Qualifications, with the exception of public bodies, will pay an annual charge to the Learner Protection Fund.  The Fund will be managed by Quality and Qualifications Ireland and will be used to support students to complete their studies in the event of a programme being terminated by a provider before completion. 

The proposal to introduce the Learner Protection Fund has been generally welcomed by education and training providers. 

The General Scheme of the Bill has now been referred to the relevant Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny.