The Further Education and Training Awards Council (Fetac) has revealed it is to withhold the granting of all certificates to Fás pending the results of a national audit.
The news came following a parliamentary question from Fine Gael’s education spokesman Fergus O’Dowd.
Mr O’Dowd said the fact that Fetac is refusing to issue certificates to Fás pending the outcome of investigations is the latest in a long line of “embarrassing bombshells” to hit the training agency.
He said Fás has “no credibility” and today’s announcement by Fetac is another “damning indictment” of the body.
“In the longer run, Fás must be abolished,” he added.
Michael McLoughlin of Youth Work Ireland said the revelations illustrate a serious failing in systems at Fás and may “undermine faith in training”.
“Training and education courses are next to useless without a proper and robust system of certification that is respected by all.
It is crucial that any doubt about certification is nipped in the bud and sorted out straight away,” he added.
Fine Gael's Bernard Allen, who is chair of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee, said this morning that the credibility of Fás was now "shot" and that there was a need for a "credible" organisation to deal with upskilling and training.