Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2009
227 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the cap on post-leaving certificate places in colleges of further education; his plans in view of the need for retraining of the workforce to expand the quota each college can enrol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7861/09]
View answerThe number of approved PLC places is set at its current level of 30,188 because there is a continuing requirement to plan and control numbers and to manage expenditure within the context of overall educational policy and provision. Due to the difficult budgetary position it is not possible to increase the number of places. Any possible future increase would have to take account of the present and prospective economic and budgetary context and related financial constraints.
228 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Science the colleges of further education and the numbers of post-leaving certificate places allocated to each one. [7862/09]
View answerThe number of places available under the Post Leaving Certificate programme currently stands at 30,188. For the current academic year 2008/2009, 28,066 of these places were allocated to Vocational Education Committees (VECs). Further distribution of those places internally is a matter for each individual VEC. The balance of places were allocated to a number of secondary and community and comprehensive schools. A breakdown of the places allocated to VECs is available in the attached table.
|
VEC |
2008/09 Places Approved |
|
Co. Cavan |
1,150 |
|
Co. Carlow |
800 |
|
Co. Clare |
100 |
|
City of Cork |
3,870 |
|
Co. Cork |
1,244 |
|
City of Dublin |
7,538 |
|
Co. Dublin |
896 |
|
Boro of Dun Laoghaire |
2,048 |
|
Co. Donegal |
213 |
|
City of Galway |
1,080 |
|
Co. Galway |
160 |
|
Co. Kerry |
460 |
|
Co. Kildare |
317 |
|
Co. Kilkenny |
460 |
|
Co. Laois |
350 |
|
Co. Leitrim |
82 |
|
City of Limerick |
750 |
|
Co. Limerick |
310 |
|
Co. Longford |
330 |
|
Co. Louth |
1,000 |
|
Co. Mayo |
387 |
|
Co. Meath |
270 |
|
Co. Monaghan |
248 |
|
Co. Offaly |
50 |
|
Co. Roscommon |
63 |
|
Co. Sligo |
350 |
|
Co. Tipperary N.R. |
570 |
|
Co. Tipperary S.R. |
270 |
|
City of Waterford |
700 |
|
Co. Waterford |
205 |
|
Co. Wexford |
730 |
|
Co. Westmeath |
115 |
|
Co. Wicklow |
950 |
|
Total VEC |
28,066 |
229 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Ballyfermot College of Further Education, Dublin, is located in a RAPID and local drugs task force area and that the number seeking to enrol from Ballyfermot, which has a low educational attainment level, has increased in recent years and as a result of the cap on places the college may not be able to accommodate the increase; and his plans to increase the number allowed for this college, which has a large intake from neighbouring disadvantaged areas such as Tallaght and Clondalkin. [7863/09]
View answerThe Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme provides an integrated general education, vocational training and work experience programme for young people who have completed their Leaving Certificate and adults returning to education. Its purpose is to enhance their prospects of gaining employment or progressing to Further Education. The number of places available nationwide under the PLC programme currently stands at 30,188. Places are allocated to VECs an on annual basis following an application process. Further distribution of those places internally is a matter for each individual VEC. The application process for the 2009/2010 academic year has not yet been completed and each application is dealt with on its own merits having regard to all the relevant circumstances.
Ballyfermot College of Further Education is part of City Of Dublin VEC. For the academic year 2008/09, the City of Dublin VEC was allocated 7,538 PLC places. Tallaght and Clondalkin are part of County Dublin VEC. For the academic year 2008/09, County Dublin VEC was allocated 896 PLC places.
