Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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481. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consult with Waterford Institute of Technology on work placements for social care students, having regard to the special circumstances caused by Covid-19 (details supplied). [18599/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Within the meaning of these Acts, HEIs are autonomous with regard to the management of their academic affairs and as such retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. Decisions on how courses will operate will be made by each institution, in line with public health advice and arrangements will vary between institutions and between courses. The HEIs will communicate the arrangements for the new academic year to students as soon as these arrangements have been finalised. 

As such, my Department does not have a role in the matter raised by the Deputy.