Written answers
Thursday, 12 July 2018
Department of Education and Skills
National Training Fund
Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the same course, healthcare support certificate, offered by a company at a cost of €2,500, is also being offered to students at a different fee rate of €500 by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31850/18]
Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the healthcare support certificate in a company (details supplied) requires 300 hours of work experience when the same course in a group requires none; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31851/18]
Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the same course, that is, the healthcare support certificate, is offered by a company (details supplied) at a cost of €2,500 when it is also being offered to students at a different fee rate of €500 by a group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32207/18]
Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the healthcare support certificate at a company (details supplied) requires 300 hours of work experience when the same course by a group requires none; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32208/18]
John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 153, 154, 179 and 180 together.
Skillnets Ireland Ltd, established in 1999, is an enterprise-led body funded through the National Training Fund (NTF) to provide companies with new opportunities to develop relevant, effective answers to their training and development needs.
Skillnet Ireland is funded through the National Training Fund (NTF) to act as an enterprise-led support body dedicated to the promotion and facilitation of enterprise training and workforce development as key elements in sustaining national competitiveness. Its primary role is to increase participation in enterprise training by companies to upskill the workforce and provide greater access for workers to skills development.
Skillnet Ireland's networks arrange relevant, cost-effective and innovative training courses for member companies who operate on both a regional and sector-specific basis. Skillnet Ireland operates a joint funding model where training is funded by combining contributions from employers with Skillnet grants. Leading Healthcare Provider (LHC) Skillnet is one of the networks that is co-funded by Skillnet Ireland.
LHP Skillnet Healthcare Support programme is QQI validated to be delivered over 27 contact days at one day per week over a six month period. In this time the 5 core modules and 3 electives that lead to the major award in Healthcare support are covered. The cost for the full award is €1,080 (or €135 per module). Where a student only requires 1 – 4 modules to complete the award the cost is €150 per module. Any number of modules over 5 equates to €135 per module. Where a student comes from a place of employment within the private healthcare sector, their 300 hours work based learning is incorporated into their normal working hours. Where a student comes from a place of unemployment they are required to take 300 hours work experience in order to obtain the necessary skills, competence and confidence to gain employment as a Health Care Assistant .
However, where an Employment Activation Programme student gains employment during the course (30-40% of students) then their employed hours are considered as part of their hours and signed off by their employer.
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