Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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926. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills where the payment is drawn from for QQI levels 1-3 and 4-6 respectively, having regard to Circular 0027/2011- Payment to Assessors for Locally Devised Assessment, which was issued in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25198/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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A Locally Devised Assessment (LDA) refers to an assessment created by a Further Education and Training (FET) provider to evaluate learners' skills and competencies in a specific course or module. These assessments align with the learning outcomes set by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) or potentially other awarding bodies but are designed locally to suit the needs of learners and courses. As many FET courses focus on skills-based learning, LDAs often involve practical tasks, projects, or portfolios rather than just written exams.

LDA fees are paid to assessors in respect of their work in devising and assessing QQI modules on full-time programmes primarily at levels 5 and 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications. For historical reasons, there are also thirty-one level 4 modules for which rates are paid, where they form part of the QQI major award at level 5. Rates are dependent on the type of assessments, for example, whether they are written, projects, or portfolio-based assessments.

The rates payable are set out in a circular from 2011. Since then, some modifications have been made. In 2017, to bring the Circular in line with the new Common Awards, it was agreed between the then Department of Education and Skills and SOLAS that a revised set of Locally Devised Assessment rates would be developed with fees paid for a fixed list of modules. Modules are occasionally added to this list, for example, as relevant new non-Common Award modules are developed and made available for use. The rates are payable for the modules on this list. The guidance on LDA rates does not exclude any assessor who is involved in assessing such modules.

Current Locally Devised Assessment rates are:

Rate 1 - €10.59

Rate 2 - €13.20

Rate 3 - €18.50

Rate 4 - €21.11

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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927. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25265/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Locally Devised Assessment (LDA) fees are paid to assessors in respect of devising and assessing Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) modules on full-time programmes at levels 5 and 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications.

For historical reasons, there are also thirty-one level 4 modules for which LDA fees are paid, where they form part of the QQI major award at level 5. Rates are dependent on the type of assessments, for example, whether they are written, projects, or portfolio-based assessments.

Circular 0027/2011 and the related list of modules for which LDA fees are paid do not exclude any assessor from receiving an LDA fee, regardless of their contract or grade.