Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
421 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will meet the Dún Laoghaire Branch of TUI to discuss the capping of student numbers in the further education sector and the delay in implementing the recommendations of the McIver report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11824/04]
View answerI have no plans to meet individual branches of the TUI on these issues. The matters have been discussed between officials of my Department and representatives of the TUI at national level.
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 2004-05 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. My Department is currently considering appeals from the VECs, schools and colleges for 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.
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 largescale 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 in relation to the shaping of structures for the delivery of further and adult education into the future.
The McIver report included a recommendation that organisations involved in the further education sector should form a council of further education colleges with the specific composition of that body to be discussed further. As an initial step, the Minister of State, Deputy Síle de Valera will address a meeting of the stakeholders in the PLC sector, including a nominee of the TUI, on Tuesday 4 May with a view to having them agree proposals for submission to the Department about the composition and remit of the council.
Having regard to the number and scope of the recommendations in the report, further consultations with all the relevant interests with regard to prioritisation of the recommendations will be necessary during 2004.
