Seán Crowe
Question:366 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is considering lifting the cap on PLC student numbers for the 2004-05 year. [11512/04]
View answerTuesday, 27 April 2004
Questions (307, 308, 309)
Tony Gregory
Question:371 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science if a decision has been made on the appeals from VECs, schools and colleges for the purposes of teacher allocations and grants based on the basis of all those enrolled for PLC courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11524/04]
View answer
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:385 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the decision in relation to funding for PLC courses at O’Fiaich College, Dundalk. [11583/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take questions 366, 371, 385 together.
Most colleges offering PLC courses are operated under the management of the vocational education committees and funding 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.
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, including O'Fiach College, Dundalk, for the recognition of the excess numbers enrolled for the purposes of teacher allocations and grants. A decision in the matter will be taken shortly in the light of the totality of demands for teaching resources across the system.