Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2013
264. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse his decision to refuse to sanction the post leaving certificate programme for 2013/2014 at a college (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22637/13]
View answer268. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail the reasons a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary has not been approved to offer a post leaving certificate programme for 2013/2014; if he will reconsider this decision in view of the fact that between 15-20 students have expressed an interest in this course; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a teaching post will be lost if this course is not sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22703/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 268 together.
Approval to participate in the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme is granted on an annual basis following an application process. Each application is examined by my Department on its own merits, taking into account current and previous allocations, current and previous demand and uptake and the overall number of places available. There are currently 32,688 approved PLC places available nationwide. Providers are required to inform the Further Education Section of my Department of any PLC places that have not been taken up by the middle of September each year in order that these unused places can be reallocated given the high demand for places.
The school referred to by the deputies has been operating PLC courses over a number of years and had sanction for 24 PLC places. While approval was given to run a PLC course in each of the years 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 the school did not enrol any PLC learners in either of these years and did not inform my Department that it was not using these places.
The application process for the 2013/2014 academic year has recently concluded and places have been allocated for the next academic year. This school has not received sanction for any PLC places. However, a range of PLC courses are available in the area which may be accessed by school leavers from this school.
