216 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, she proposes to take to ensure that private colleges in the third-level sector are participating in an insurance bonding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12740/97]

In relation to the regulation of private third level colleges, the White Paper, Charting our Education Future, provides that such colleges, which run courses which receive State certification, will be subject to new control regulations. These regulations will be introduced in order to guarantee the academic integrity and quality of the courses and qualifications on offer, prescribe institutional norms and to protect the financial investments of students and their parents. The White Paper provides that the new regulations will be the responsibility of TEASTAS — the Irish National Certification Authority.