I propose to take Questions Nos. 397 and 399 together.
In the post-leaving certificate sector, an additional 1,540 student places have been approved by my Department during 2005. The majority of these additional student places were notified to PLC providers on the basis of applications received earlier this year. A further 60 student places will be approved shortly. On the basis of a pupil:teacher ratio of 20:1.25, or 16:1 in whole figures, in the PLC sector, an additional 96.25 teaching posts would be available. However, at the time of writing, 74.29 posts have been taken up by schools.
Officials in my Department are in consultation with the relevant management authority and schools to ensure, in so far as possible, an entitlement to new resources under this initiative is applied this year. I am anxious that the schools should take up these posts. Lists of schools benefitting under the initiative will be prepared and sent to the Deputy shortly.