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Adult Education.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 April 2004

Tuesday, 6 April 2004

Questions (155)

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

239 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if and when he will meet with the Dún Laoghaire branch of the TUI, as requested, to discuss the capping of student numbers in the further education sector and the implementation of the recommendations of the McIver report. [10674/04]

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Written answers

In the current academic year the enrolments on PLC courses in certain schools and colleges have exceeded the number of places approved. Teacher allocations for 2004 and 2005 and capitation grants have been allocated on the basis of the approved number of places or the numbers enrolled. In the 2003 — 2004 academic year nearly 28,700 places were approved. My Department is 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. At national level, meetings about the matter have been held recently between officials and representatives of the management and TUI interests in the sector. I have no plans to meet with the Dún Laoghaire branch of the TUI at this time.

The post-leaving certificate review was commissioned to examine the sector and make recommendations as necessary regarding the organisational, support, development, technical and administrative structures and resources required in schools with large scale post leaving certificate provision. The final report was completed in April, 2003. The recommendations of the report are wide-ranging and encompass proposals that extend beyond PLC provision. The report poses considerable challenges for the shaping of structures for the delivery of further and adult education into the future. Having regard to the number and scope of the recommendations in the report, further consultations with all the relevant interests about prioritisation of the recommendations will be necessary during 2004.

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