Written answers

Tuesday, 8 November 2022

Department of Education and Skills

Qualifications Recognition

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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816. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2022 will impact on QQI certifications that have already been awarded to persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54665/22]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon 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, 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.

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 Memorandum for Government setting out the new approach was approved by Cabinet and the General Scheme of the Constructing Safety Licensing Bill was published on Gov.ie. A link to the published General Scheme can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ebf3f-general-scheme-of-the-construction-safety-licensing-bill-2022/

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