Vol. 481 No. 6
8 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the estimated cost for a student to attend a post leaving certificate course if they live at home or if they have to live away from home; and the plans, if any, he has to subsidise this cost. [16569/97]
26 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to fund post leaving certificate course students on the same basis as other students in similar circumstances at third-level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16585/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 26 together.
The programme for Government, An Action Programme for the Millennium, provides a commitment to the introduction of 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. This is the first time issues of concern to PLCs have been put firmly on the political agenda and on a Government programme for action.
There is no reliable detailed information available to my Department in relation to the overall costs, including living expenses, to a student of attendance at a PLC course. Such costs could vary widely. The cost of introducing a support scheme for PLC students on lines similar to the higher education grants scheme would be of the order of £13 million per annum.
My Department is providing in excess of £39 million this year towards the running costs of PLC courses which are playing a key role in preparing young people for employment and further education and training. These courses are a significant element of the Government's response to meeting the skill needs of the economy. Their importance is reflected in the Government's intention to introduce an equitable support scheme for the students in this sector.
In this context I recently announced details of a national initiative to provide training to meet the skill needs of the international teleservices industry. The PLC sector is central to this initiative with over 700 places being approved. As this new initiative involves extensive placement abroad, a new student support scheme is being introduced towards the cost of the overseas placement.
Through action to properly resource different aspects of their work, I am confident the Government will consistently demonstrate its commitment to recognising and promoting the role of the PLC sector.
Some 17,000 students are disappointed this initiative was not in place in September, as they had been led to believe by the Minister. Will the Minister agree it is totally inequitable that a student attending Ballyfermot Senior College should not receive a maintenance grant while his equivalent attending Trinity College receives free fees and a maintenance grant? Will he agree that a Minister who condones this situation could be accused of outrageous indifference?
That is a good description of the previous Administration because that was exactly the position. It is inequitable. Students on PLC courses have been treated in an inequitable manner. That is the reason there is a commitment in the programme for Government to deal with that inequity. That is not the full story in terms of the inequity. There has been no capital expenditure on PLC colleges since their inception. In my view many PLC colleges have performed miracles in terms of the range of courses on offer. In July I met a number of chief executives in industry who were appreciative of the role of the PLC colleges in meeting the skill needs of the economy. The Government is committed to ensuring the PLCs will have a strong role in meeting the demands of the economy, particularly the skill needs. This means more resources for the PLC sector. The package I will be announcing in that respect will reflect the Government's commitment to the PLC sector. In the manifesto we made no reference to 1997 since that is obviously in the context of the Estimates debate which is now taking place. The Government of which the Deputy was a member decided to put nothing into the Estimates for PLC students. Since coming into office I have met with all the heads and the chief executive officers of the vocational education committees. I made it clear to them that unlike their experience under the previous Administration, this Administration will give priority placing to and hold in high regard the vocational education committee sector in terms of its role in education, particularly in terms of the PLC sector.
Has the Minister got the figures?
The Deputy who has been through Estimates processes will be aware that one cannot pre-empt the conclusion of that process.
I wish the Minister well.
Thank you.
I chose carefully the words I used earlier. They came from a statement Deputy Martin made in August 1996, prior to becoming Minister. He said that any Minister who would preside over this would be accused of outrageous indifference. The Minister made a promise in the programme for Government to provide funding for PLC courses. Many students and their parents voted on the basis that it would be in place this year. Is the Minister giving a commitment that there will be equity in regard to PLC courses and ordinary higher education grants for 1988?
We are in the process of discussing the Estimates and I am not in a position today to give a precise reply to that question. The Government is committed to the PLC sector. That we have put it into the programme for Government reflects the Government's commitment to the PLC sector generally. Since coming into office I have initiated the teleservices initiative in the PLC sector which for the first time introduced a maintenance grant system for the 700 PLC students who were studying that course. That maintenance grant system was in respect of the placement abroad of those students for about six months to develop a competency in foreign languages for the teleservices initiative. Forfás and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, who were very much involved in that model initiative to determine how education and industry should proceed in the future in terms of a dynamic partnership, estimate that up to 10,000 people will be employed in teleservices in the next three to four years. Obviously we will need more schemes such as maintenance support schemes for PLC students to meet the skill needs of the economy. This is the first time that a Minister for Education has said that the PLCs, just as the regional technical colleges and the universities, will have a strong role in terms of meeting the skill needs. This means the provision of equipment and additional capital resources.
Will the Minister agree that would have a better employment effect than a reduction in corporation profits tax to 10 per cent?
The reduction in corporation tax was a policy which the Government, of which the Deputy was a Member, outlined enthusiastically.
A rate of 12.5 per cent.
The reduction in corporation tax was cheered across the House. There are two major factors which people have identified in terms of attracting inward investment. The tax issue is one and the skills issue is another.
I agree.
The skills issue is a priority in terms of a modern Ireland as we move into the next century. Inward investment will be based on the quality of young people emanating from our colleges. That is not only our view, it is the view of industry.
I hope the Minister can convince his colleague in the Department of Finance of that.
We will await the outcome. Taxation is equally important. The previous Government was very enthusiastic about reducing corporation tax. I do not have a difficulty with that and it will be pursued enthusiastically by this Government.
As long as the Government knows its priorities.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
