Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 April 2004
73 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to meet the concerns of County Waterford VEC regarding the capping of places on PLC courses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10347/04]
View answerFunding for VEC colleges offering PLC courses is provided for pay and non-pay costs on the basis of the approved number of places on approved courses run by the colleges.
In the current academic year the enrolments on PLC courses in certain schools and colleges have exceeded the number of places approved by my Department. Teacher allocations for 2004-05 and capitation grants have been allocated on the basis of the approved number of places or the numbers enrolled.
In the 2003-04 academic year nearly 28,700 places were approved by my Department. My Department is currently considering appeals from the VECs, schools and colleges for the recognition of the excess numbers enrolled for the purposes of teacher allocations and grants and a decision in the matter will be taken shortly in the light of the totality of demands for teaching resources across the system.
