Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 7

Written Answers. - Post-Leaving Certificate Courses.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

68 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the caps, if any, which he proposes to impose on post-leaving certificate courses; whether this will hamper the ability of this sector to respond quickly to emerging skill shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14968/98]

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

79 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, there are to cap the number of places on post-leaving certificate courses for the academic year 1998-99 particularly in view of the commitments he gave in relation to the expansion of post leaving certificate courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14985/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 79 together.

It has been the practice with effect from 1994-95 to allow expansion in general only to the extent that existing teacher numbers at local level allow. Notwithstanding this, participation on the programme has rapidly increased in recent years as follows:- 1993-94, 17,677; 1994-95, 17,644; 1995-96, 17,985; 1996-97, 18,712 and 1997-98, 21,263. 22,727 places have been appproved on the programme in 1998-99, thereby providing for an increase of 4,015 places over the two school years since this Government took office, compared with an increase of 1,035 places in the preceding three years.

This is a significant expansion, and has been accompanied by investment of £20 million for PLCs and Apprentices under the Education Technology Fund, the introduction of maintenance grants with effect from September 1998, the provisions of £1.5 million to date for equipment in the centres approved for teleservices in 1997, and the establishment of a new student support scheme towards the cost of placing teleservices students abroad.

The PLC sector has proved its capacity to respond rapidly to changing skill needs, and I have taken steps to ensure that increases in approval level in 1998-99 are being targeted at strategic areas such as the teleservices area. In that context, the numbers on teleservices courses will increase from 435 in 1997-98 to 1,505 in 1998-99.