Written answer
Departmental Policies
The Minister said higher education institutions and professional regulators, not the Department, oversee academic content, research, quality assurance and safeguarding at events.
1496. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the safeguards in place to ensure that healthcare practices presented to students and healthcare professionals in higher education institutions are appropriately distinguished between established evidence-based practice, emerging research, and unproven practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64701/26]
Comment on this
1497. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he is satisfied that University College Cork's child safeguarding and research governance procedures have been appropriately considered in relation to educational material concerning infants and lactation presented at the TransCare 2026 conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64700/26]
Comment on this
1498. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department has any role in ensuring appropriate research, clinical evidence and safeguarding standards are applied to healthcare-related educational events hosted by publicly funded higher education institutions, in view of the TransCare 2026 conference at University College Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64699/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1496, 1497 and 1498 together.
Under legislation, higher education institutions are autonomous bodies with responsibility for their own academic affairs, governance arrangements, and internal quality assurance procedures. The Department does not have a role in overseeing or approving the content of academic programmes, teaching materials, research activities, or events hosted by individual institutions.
Higher education institutions are responsible for maintaining appropriate academic and quality assurance procedures in respect of their educational activities. In addition to academic quality assurance requirements, education and training of health and social care professions is subject to the criteria set down by the relevant regulators of those professions to ensure graduates are competent and adhere to established standards of practice.
Matters relating to child safeguarding, research governance, and compliance with institutional policies in respect of specific events are the responsibility of the higher education institution concerned. The Department has no role in relation to the content of individual conferences or events.