I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 137, 148, 149, 158 and 159 together.
The reduction of €13.2 million in 2013 VEC allocations is separate to the change in the pupil teacher ratio for Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses. That reduction takes account of VEC capacity to utilise cash balances on a once off basis.
While it would have been preferable not to have to make any changes, bringing the pupil teacher ratio for PLC from 17:1 into line with that of free second level schools at 19:1 ensures that our limited resources are rightly focused on the children in our education system.
The change will reduce the overall number of PLC teaching posts by 200 and may lead to some reduction in subject choices for students but not approved places. CEOs of VECs and school principals have until next September to plan how best to deal with this change so that they can continue to deliver programmes which meet the needs of students and employers.