I propose to take Questions Nos. 897 to 901, inclusive, and 914 together.
The Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC) is a private institution based in the United Kingdom and does not fall within the remit or regulatory oversight of the Department. A number of private education providers operate in Ireland without State accreditation. Such providers may offer programmes accredited by overseas institutions or bodies, or indeed programmes that are not formally accredited. There is no legislative impediment to such arrangements. It is also important to note that play therapy is not a regulated profession in Ireland and there is no statutory regulator with responsibility for overseeing the profession. Play Therapy Ireland is an independent professional body and is not subject to State oversight.
Under Irish law, universities such as UCC are autonomous institutions. The Universities Act 1997 and the Technological Universities Act 2018 provide higher education institutions with responsibility for regulating their own academic affairs, including decisions relating to courses, awards and academic standards. As a result, neither the Minister nor the Department has a role in determining the academic arrangements of individual institutions.
I have been informed that under an agreement between UCC and the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (Ireland) Limited, which concluded in March 2026, the following UCC-accredited programmes were offered, with APAC Ireland delivering elements of the courses:
• Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills; and
• Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy.
I understand that APAC was also involved in arrangements with its UK partner institution, the University of Chichester, regarding pathways to further study and that some graduates of the UCC-accredited Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills entered into private arrangements with APAC and paid fees in advance with a view to commencing a Postgraduate Diploma programme in September 2026.
UCC has advised that it did not register any students to commence studies on the Postgraduate Diploma programme in September 2026. Accordingly, those arrangements were entered into directly between the individuals concerned and APAC and did not form part of the programmes delivered by APAC under its agreement with UCC. UCC has indicated that its priority remains supporting students who are currently registered on UCC programmes. The University has communicated directly with affected students and has stated its intention to take all reasonable steps to enable those students to complete their studies and, where possible, achieve the relevant UCC qualification.
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the independent State agency responsible for the external quality assurance of higher and further education and training providers. QQI has responsibility for oversight of providers operating within the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), including matters relating to access, transfer and progression arrangements for learners. QQI is actively engaging with UCC on matters arising.
Currently, the Department is monitoring the situation closely and students have been encouraged to keep in contact with UCC for any developments.
