Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 10

Written Answers. - Post Leaving Certificate Courses.

Máirín Quill

Question:

5 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the growth in post-Leaving Certificate courses now taking place in a number of vocational education committee and other colleges in the country and to the enormous benefit to students of these courses because of their diversity and their relevance to aptitudes of young people particularly those with creative and enterprise talents and also the relevance to emerging job prospects in the labour market; if her attention has further been drawn to the need to grant-aid such students; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Avril Doyle

Question:

150 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for Education the reason there are no student support grants available for students attending post-Leaving Certificate courses.

Micheál Martin

Question:

156 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education her views on whether there is a need to introduce new funding arrangements for the new tier of third level education which has emerged in recent years, that is, students pursuing post-leaving certificate courses and other courses of education, being provided outside of the more conventional university or regional technical college institutions.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 5, 150 and 156 together. I am aware of the significant growth in participation in the post leaving certificate (PLC) element of the vocational preparation and training programme operated by my Department. Approximately 16,000 students participate annually on these courses. They are aimed at those who have completed senior cycle or a VPT-1 programme but who need to further develop their vocational skills in order to enable them to secure employment commensurate with their general level of education.

I am satisfied that these courses prepare young people effectively for active participation in the labour market. The latest placement surveys suggest that approximately 75 per cent of participants are placed in employment or further training. The programme is designed to provide a flexible response to local labour market needs and emerging job prospects.

The running costs of these courses, which are delivered outside the third level sector, are already funded by my Department with support from the European Social Fund. I am sure the House will appreciate the need to strike a balance between competing demands for resources in the education sector, funding for the different levels of the system, initial and second chance education, student supports, investment in quality assurance and special measures to combat disadvantage and underachievement.

To provide a maintenance grants scheme for participants would cost of the order of £8 million per annum. In the case of PLC courses I consider it more important to concentrate on improving the quality of the system, through investment in national certification assessed arrangements, in programme development, in inservice training, and in ensuring that courses continue to be available in a wide range of disciplines for as many students as possible.

As the House is aware, I have set up an independent advisory group to review the present grant schemes, and I am pleased to inform my colleagues that their review is expected shortly on my desk. I hope to have the report published before the end of the year.