Vol. 489 No. 1
9 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the arrangements, if any, he is making for maintenance grants for PLC courses in view of the fact that schools are now making arrangements for these courses starting in September 1998. [7483/98]
62 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, there are to provide grants for post leaving certificate students along the lines of the third level grants; if the system will be in place for the 1998-9 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7444/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 62 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, the programme for Government, An Action Programme for the Millennium, provides a commitment to introduce equitable support for students attending PLC courses. I have already advised the House of my intention to introduce grants, which will be at the same level as the third level maintenance grants, as soon as possible for students who are registered on PLC courses as of September 1998. Provision for the payment of the first instalment of these grants has been included in the 1998 Estimates. An information leaflet setting out guideline information about the introduction of PLC grants was distributed by my Department in early February .
The introduction of maintenance grants for students attending PLC courses involves the development of significant new administrative arrangements. While the method and timing of these payments may take some time to finalise, I assure the House that they will be made and they will fully meet our commitments. I expect to be in a position to announce further details on the administration of the scheme by early May 1998.
PLC courses are playing a key role in preparing young people for employment and further education and training. These courses represent a significant element of the Government's response to meeting the skill needs of the Irish economy and have been identified by business leaders to be a very effective means of meeting those needs. The teleservices programme, whereby I provided additional places for a two year NCVA certified course, demonstrates the flexible nature of the sector which facilitates the provision of quality programmes uniquely tailored to industrial needs. My Department is providing some £39 million this year towards the running costs of PLC courses. A capital provision of £20 million will also be available for PLCs and apprenticeships as part of the £250 million education technology investment fund.
I am sure the Deputies will acknowledge the commitment we are showing to the sector, which I am confident will continue to develop over the coming years.
As the Minister is aware, there are one, two and three year PLC courses. Will one year courses be covered by this arrangement? Must the courses be accredited to recognised bodies, such as the NCVA, the RSA or City & Guilds?
The scheme will apply to all students registered on PLC courses for the 1998-9 academic year, including one, two and three years courses. Obviously, the NCVA is the certifying body for the majority of PLC courses. We eventually want all PLC courses validated in the context of a national qualifications framework.
What about the RSA and City & Guilds?
In principle, the grants will be attached to the national qualifications framework, but we have not worked out the details of each course yet. I do not have specific information on the areas that will be covered. All students registered on PLC courses will be eligible to apply for grants, subject to means testing and so on.
Will the Minister clarify that all PLC students, and not only those registering for the first time, will qualify for the grants? There is considerable flexibility in schools and vocational education committees, in particular, about the establishment of PLC courses. Does the Minister envisage that degree of flexibility continuing or does he envisage a regime coming into place after the introduction of the grants whereby schools and vocational education committees will have to get departmental approval for the establishment of PLC courses?
They have always had to get departmental approval for such courses.
It is flexible.
They have to obtain departmental approval to start a PLC course. While there is ongoing engagement between colleges and the Department, the bottom line is that the Department must approve the places. That was the case even before I became Minister. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate there would be chaos if every college could set up courses as they saw fit. That would be untenable. We are committed to expansion. As I outlined in reply to an earlier question, an additional 2,600 places have been approved for 1998-9. There has been phenomenal growth in the PLC sector. It a key component of our strategy to meet the skill needs of the economy, which has been verified by industrialists and people in the business sector generally. The maintenance grants will apply to all students registered in 1998 and not only first year enrolments.
The time for Question Time has concluded, but I am prepared to take a brief supplementaries from the three Deputies offering and allow the Minister to answer them together.
It is my understanding, from comments made earlier by the Minister, that he will make the financial provision in early 1999. Will he confirm that the provision will be made in 1998 and that the first instalment of all maintenance grants will be paid in September?
Will the Minister give a commitment that he will accept accreditation from the Royal Society of Arts in London, the body used by a number of schools for qualification for commercial courses, and City & Guilds, which a number of institutions still use, as well as from the NCVA?
Schools have considerable flexibility in establishing PLC courses. I ask the Minister not to use the introduction of student maintenance grants as a means for the Department to control and restrict the development and natural growth of the PLC system.
We can be mischievous and raise all sorts of issues.
I am not being mischievous.
With respect, the bottom line is that the Department has approved all places this year. There is a procedure in place whereby colleges seek approval from the Department for establishing new courses. Before becoming Minister I was chairman of the Forum of Colleges of Further Education in Cork, which embraces the three colleges of further education there. I am intimately aware of the processes in which we engaged. We sought harmony between the three colleges for the courses for which we would seek departmental approval on an ongoing annual basis. The City of Cork VEC has sought approval for a range of courses on behalf of those colleges. In the context of the skills issue and meeting the needs of the economy, we will endeavour to balance the number of students taking up engineering, science and technician courses and other courses. The teleservices initiative we introduced last autumn created an additional 500 places to meet a particular need in the economy. We will introduce similar initiatives across the board.
I would hate to think anyone would hold the view that the introduction of maintenance grants for PLC students would be used as a brake on the system. We increased the number of places by 2,600 this year alone. The PLC system is cost effective and very successful. I confirmed in my reply that the provision for the payment of the first instalment of these grants is included in the 1998 Estimates, but I cannot confirm as yet the date for payments. I hope to be more specific in that regard at a later stage.
In relation to Deputy Deenihan's question, academic requirements for a grant will be satisfied by securing a place on a plc course that has been approved by the Department. If students are on courses approved by the Department they will receive a grant.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
