Post Leaving Certificate Courses

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2010

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Questions (220)

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

288 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will direct the vocational education committees to ensure a number of places within colleges of further education are held for students who appeal their leaving certificate results; if she will note that some students lose out on a place in these colleges if demand is high and the student, through no fault of their own, has decided to appeal the leaving cert results; if her attention has been drawn to this policy that already exists in the universities and institutes of technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33035/10]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Seán Haughey)

Applications for places on individual Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses are made directly to the schools and colleges involved. Following an interview and assessment of suitability, conditional offers are usually made to applicants around May for courses beginning the following September. For school leavers, these offers are conditional on successful completion of the Leaving Certificate.

It is a matter for each school or college how they deal with applications where Leaving Certificate results are being appealed. I understand that schools and colleges deal with such applications on a case by case basis.