Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not have a role in the academic affairs of individual higher education institutions.

My Department has been advised by colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science that Higher Education Institutions are autonomous and neither the Department or the Minister has a role in their administrative or academic affairs. The institution concerned is a private college that offers a range of degree programmes which are validated and awarded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), under its own quality framework.

As part of that process, I understand that it is open to students to appeal decisions made by the college. This is an independent process and that Department would have no remit over the issues raised in the correspondence regarding an individual case.