Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of pathways for social care students studying at a college (details supplied) into the profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50479/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Following the decision by the college referred to by the Deputy to withdraw its Applied Social Care degree from consideration for approval by CORU, engagements have been ongoing between my Department's officials, the Department of Health, CORU, Quality and Qualifications Ireland and the college to work to identify alternative options for the affected students.

The options available to students are dependent on what stage their studies are at and the number of credits that they have completed.

The following is the current status for the various categories of students:

- Graduates will have the opportunity to become eligible for the Social Care Workers Register which is due to open on 30^thNovember 2023, should they so wish, under ‘grand-parenting’ provisions. Further information in relation to these ‘grand-parenting’ provisions should be sought from the Department of Health or CORU directly, as these matters are not within the remit or responsibility of this Department.

- Year 1 students who had completed 60 credits in the academic year 2021/2022 were offered the option to transfer to Year 1 on a similar programme being offered by an alternative provider in the 2022/2023 academic year.

- I understand part-time students at the college referred to by the Deputy were offered the option to transfer to a similar programme being offered by an alternative provider.

Engagements are continuing with all relevant parties to work to identify a way forward for the remaining students.