Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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489. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that in the near future any person who is studying a construction skills certification scheme course with SOLAS will not be credited with a QQI certificate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35941/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations, 2008, construction and quarrying workers undergo training, assessment, certification and registration for their roles. Additionally under the 2013 Regulations, persons undertaking on-site security work and persons or classes of persons as may be prescribed by the relevant Minister are required to hold a safety awareness registration card (Safe Pass card). 

The Construction Skills Certificate Scheme and Quarrying Skills Certificate Scheme went through a detailed review and following consultation with public sector bodies (Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Health and Safety Authority) industry (Construction Industry Federation, Concrete Federation of Ireland, Electrical Contractors etc) and staff representatives (SIPTU, Building & Allied Trades' Union, Technical Engineering & Electrical Union, etc).  All stakeholders agreed that the recommendations of the review would be adopted including moving to a licence system (similar to the EU) with an assessment event every 5 years and a move away from the Certificate approach.

The main purpose of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme and Quarrying Skills Certification Schemes is to ensure that people competently operate machinery and conduct tasks in a safe and competent manner. This requires appropriate monitoring and inspection. The current certification arrangements through QQI do not include such monitoring and inspection.

In recognition of this, and supported by research undertaken by SOLAS and outlined in the Bearing Point report, the current certification (QQI) approach will transition to a licencing model for both programmes. A draft Memo for Government setting out the new approach will be brought to Cabinet shortly.