Written Answers Nos. 1-135
134. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision will be made for those who may be refused Student Universal Support Ireland grants following the delays and may then want to defer their courses based on that decision, even though the official deadline for deferral decisions has now passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2427/13]
View answerDecisions on course deferrals are an issue between the student and the relevant higher education institution. Institutions have different rules on the particular circumstances that may be considered as reasons for a deferral. As the Deputy will appreciate, higher education institutions are autonomous bodies. As such, the governing authority of each institution is responsible for the day-to-day operational affairs, including conditions governing deferral of places.
It would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the practice of individual institutions on deferrals. I would however say that individuals, for a variety of reasons and circumstances, consider deferring their courses.
135. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been an assessment done on the number of job losses as a result of the changes made to the pupil teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2686/13]
View answer137. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the impact of the proposed cutbacks of €13.2 million to the vocational education committee sector in terms of the proposed increase in the PLC pupil-teacher ratio and changes to the PLC sector in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2426/13]
View answer148. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills his view on the claims by the Teachers Union of Ireland that the decision made in Budget 2013 to increase the pupil teacher ratio in post leaving certificate colleges from 17:1 to 19:1 will facilitate the elimination of 400 teaching posts and the ending of specialised courses with a consequential negative impact on the futures of the young people affected. [2615/13]
View answer149. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the impact that budget cuts to post leaving certificate courses will have on the number of places and the types of courses on offer in colleges of further education; when he expects to receive a report on the impact of these cuts to the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2693/13]
View answer158. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way changes to the pupil teacher ratio will impact on PLC programmes and adult learners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2685/13]
View answer159. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teaching posts that will be lost as a result of the increase in the pupil teacher ratio from 17:1 to 19:1 in the further education and training sector; the consideration that has been given to the difficulties that will arise from having to replace teachers who teach specialised subjects. [2674/13]
View answerI 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.
