Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2013
22. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has quantified the likely number of teaching jobs, course offerings and student places that may be lost as a result of his plans to increase the student-teacher ratio in the further education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11996/13]
View answer25. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the impact that the planned increase in the student staff ratio in the further education sector will have on course offerings, specialist training skills and course places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11999/13]
View answer38. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider his plans to increase the student staff-ratio in the further education sector in view of the damaging effect this will have on the sector in terms of job and skill losses, loss of courses and reduction of course places for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11998/13]
View answer49. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the impact that the planned increase in the student-staff ratio in the further education sector will have on course offerings, specialist training skills and course places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12000/13]
View answer54. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider his plans to increase the student-staff ratio in the further education sector in view of the damaging effect this will have on the sector in terms of job and skill losses, loss of courses and reduction of course places for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11997/13]
View answer57. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the planned change in the student teacher ratio of 1:17 to 1:19 in the further education sector will lead to the loss of many teachers with specialist skills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11995/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 25, 38, 49, 54 and 57 together.
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 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. In doing so regard will have to be had to the relevance of courses to the labour market, numbers undertaking courses, completion rates, certification rates and progression rates as well as the capacity for amalgamation of courses or modular delivery, etc. The Government's commitment to education, upskilling and retraining is evidenced by my Department's funding over 430,000 part-time and full-time education and training places across the range of provision in the higher education, further education and training sectors in 2013.
