I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 255 together.
To provide a means-tested maintenance grant scheme for post-leaving certificate students along the lines of the higher education grant schemes would cost in the order of £13 million per annum. The Govenment's action programme for the New Millennium contains a commitment to provide "equitable support of students attending PLC courses". The commitment in the Programme for Government reflects the importance which the Government attaches to students in the PLC sector. The implementation of this commitment, including the exact timing of the introduction of an appropriate scheme, is under examination at present.
Details are not yet available of the overall number of PLC students enrolled in 1997-98. The numbers in previous years were as follows: 1996-97, 18,712; 1995-96, 17,985; 1994-95, 17,644; 1993-94, 17,677; 1992-93, 17,030.