Vol. 481 No. 7
296 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to establish a further education council to regulate and streamline the provision of further education and post-leaving certificate courses throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16958/97]
The Government's commitment in this area of education is evident in An Action Programme for the Millennium undertaking to provide equitable support of students attending PLC courses; the significant role played by PLC courses in the Government's response to meeting the skill needs of the Irish economy, particularly the recent initiative in international teleservices, which is accompanied by substantial capital investment and a new student support scheme for the cost of overseas placement; the increase of a minimum of 1,000 additional places on Youthreach and in senior traveller training centre places which is being provided in 1998, allied with a new measure to provide counselling, guidance and psychological services for participants on these programmes; the decision to have a Green Paper on Adult Education which will make recommendations on future developments in the context of expanding access to lifelong learning; the ongoing investment in the work of the National Council for Vocational Awards and Teastas in providing national certification and assessment for this important sector, streamlining and regulating standards in line with industry needs.
I am confident that, over the lifetime of this Government, we will consistently demonstrate our continuing commitment to this very important area of education. I will keep the structures through which this might best be done under review.
