Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1126. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has engaged with CORU regarding the requirement on social care students to complete 300 hours of placement in view of public health restrictions; if there are plans to establish an alternative pathway to registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14822/21]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1129. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 606 of 27 January 2021, the status and details of the outcome of engagement between CORU, education providers and the relevant stakeholders on the issue of alternatives to placements for social care students in 2021 in view of the public health restrictions which have impacted substantially on students’ ability to obtain and carry out placements; if his attention has been drawn to the stress and anxiety that this is causing to social care students; if he will take steps to ensure there is an appropriate solution provided as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14880/21]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions being taken to help social care students reach the necessary work placement hours in order to register with CORU. [14986/21]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider reducing the number of placement hours, currently 300, in order for social care students to be registered under CORU and to be able to work in a social care setting after graduation in view of current Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15333/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1126, 1129, 1145 and 1153 together.

I am aware that issues have arisen in relation to placement hours both for students of Social Care programmes and for placements more generally as the restrictions to combat the spread of Covid-19 have tightened. My Department is monitoring developments in this regard very closely.

Since March 2020, QQI has facilitated engagement between stakeholders, including the representative bodies of education providers and students, and CORU which have taken place in parallel to direct engagements between CORU and individual education providers at a local and regional level. The goal of these engagements has been to ensure that, where possible, necessary alternative arrangements are in place to maintain the standards of education and training in this area and that these issues are actively managed. These efforts are to ensure that students can progress in their programmes from one academic year into the next, or, where relevant, graduate with the necessary professional competencies that have been set out by CORU.

While I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the efforts that have been made by CORU, QQI and our educational institutions to identify and implement flexible solutions for students up to this point, I am conscious that further efforts are now necessary.

QQI has been asked, supported by my Department, to facilitate intensified engagements between CORU, education providers and relevant stakeholders on this issue. These engagements are ongoing and are focused on identifying solutions that can be swiftly implemented for the student cohort who are most impacted in the near term while also identifying flexible approaches that can be readily adopted within the system in the medium to longer term as the response to the pandemic evolves and changes. These engagements serve to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders in developing these solutions and, most importantly, will ensure transparency and clarity for those students studying social care.

Students should continue to engage directly with their provider for further information on the arrangements being implemented for their particular year and course.