Vol. 537 No. 5
560 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the interface between institutes of technology and post-leaving certificate courses in the Wexford constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16759/01]
The National Council for Vocational Awards provides certification at level 2 for the majority of courses in my Department's post leaving certificate programme. The NCVA established the higher education links scheme in 1995 to facilitate progression from NCVA level 2 certificates to higher education. This scheme operates in conjunction with the National Council for Educational Awards, the institutes of technology and the Central Applications Office.
Under the higher education links scheme, places on selected courses in the institutes of technology are allocated on the basis of attainment achieved in the NCVA level 2 awards by candidates on linked PLC courses. Details are available on the web at www.ncva.ie and are circulated annually to school principals and guidance counsellors. Candidates submit their third level applications to the CAO in the normal way. The scheme is organised on a national rather than constituency basis and approximately 2000 third level places are available in 2001 on 250 courses. Each NCVA level 2 module covered by the scheme is credited, with three points allocated for a distinction, two points for a merit and one point for a pass. Places are offered in ranked order until the quota is complete for each course.
PLC courses are delivered by a network of over 230 schools and colleges throughout the country in the vocational, secondary and community and comprehensive school sector, but the bulk of provision is in vocational colleges. In all, there are over 1,400 courses to choose from in over 60 disciplines. All second level schools are invited each year to apply for inclusion in the PLC programme. Overall, a survey of the destinations of PLC leavers shows that 21.6% of participants progress to third level education, while a further 8.56% go to some other form of vocational education or training. 64.5% enter employment.
561 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 410 of 29 May 2001, he will list the meetings he has had with the Waterford Institute of Technology authorities regarding the location of an outreach centre of Waterford Institute of Technology in County Wexford; the matters discussed; the decisions reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16760/01]
On 7 December 2000 I met representatives from Waterford Institute of Technology when they expressed an interest in being involved with proposals for a reachout centre at St. Peter's College, Wexford. Proposals for the development of this reachout centre including the possibility of Waterford Institute being involved with the project are being examined in the context of my plans to address the related problems of non-completion of second-level education and low participation rates in higher education.
