Further Education and Training Programmes Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2013

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Questions (46)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

46. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the reduction in teaching allocation at a college (details supplied) in Dublin 10 will result in the loss of specialised award winning courses; if he will recognise the unique place of the college in Irish education by providing an enhanced allocation to allow the college to develop new programmes; the reason the students of the college need to rely on UK certification; and the reason students attending the college are neither eligible for the same grants as other institutions nor Erasmus and Leonardo funding. [25643/13]

Oral answers (9 contributions)

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The college referred to by the Deputy is operated as an approved post-leaving certificate, PLC, centre by City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee. My Department continues to facilitate, as an exceptional measure, the provision by this college of two courses accredited at level 8 on the national framework of qualifications. The CDVEC has been allowed, as a transitional measure, to retain for the 2013-2014 academic year ten whole-time equivalent teaching posts it had been due to lose under the new pupil-teacher ratio allocation. Further distribution of these posts to colleges under its remit is a matter for the CDVEC.

Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 outlines the position with regard to approved institutions for the purposes of student grants. The college is comprehended within section 7(1)(d) of the Act as a provider of post-leaving certificate courses. I have no plans to designate further education centres as approved third level institutions for the purposes of the student grant scheme

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

From his answer it is obvious the Minister of State is aware of the college in question, which is an exceptional one by any yardstick. Recently the education committee visited it and saw at first hand the type of work that is carried on in this college. It plays a pioneering role, some aspects of which have already been identified given the Department has recognised its level 8 courses. By doing that, it must also recognise the college is already delivering, not only in further education but in higher education, and that it is a pioneer. For example, it is the first college to offer fine art portfolio courses and desktop distinction courses in graphic design, fibre art and illustration. This college produced an Oscar winner and several Oscar nominees for animation, which must be recognised and encouraged.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Thank you, Deputy.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Can the Minister of State provide a guarantee there will be no job losses beyond the number he gave of two posts, to be an exception for one year, and that the college will be unaffected by the changes in the pupil teacher ratio? Given the nature of the specialised courses it offers there, is a danger of a loss, not only of specialist lecturers but also of specialist courses for which the college is renowned, not only in the Ballyfermot area but throughout Ireland and the world. I appeal to the Minister of State to consider this college not alone as an exception but as a role model for future transition between the colleges of further and higher education.

Deputy Ciarán Cannon

In the first instance, the Minister, Deputy Quinn, and I made a commitment at the outset, when the pupil-teacher ratio changes were first announced, that we would actively engage and consult colleges of further education and VECs to allow for that transitionary period to occur before September of next year and for the system to respond as best it could, thereby suggesting to us the number of alleviation posts that might be required within each VEC to minimise the impact of this necessary budgetary cut. As I made clear in my response, the City of Dublin VEC has been awarded ten additional teaching posts and, as every VEC does, it has the autonomy and independence in deciding how those posts are allocated. I very much acknowledge the excellent work being done by Ballyfermot College of Further Education.

One of the reasons we are currently reforming our further education and training system and creating a new further education and training authority, SOLAS, is that early on in both our Ministries we identified a significant duplication and, at times, a fragmentation occurring between the further education and training sectors. We do not want to see a situation emerging where this would begin to occur between the further and higher education systems. Those legacy courses that are provided for in the college, to which the Deputy referred, are exactly that - a legacy. It would not be our intention to enhance or allow for third level provision within the further education sector. In the coming years, the higher education sector will undergo significant reforms and restructuring, including an enhanced collaboration in particular regions between institutes of technology and universities.

The higher education sector will undergo significant reforms and restructuring over the next several years, including enhanced collaboration between institutes of technology and universities in particular regions. We believe this will be the model for delivery of third level education in future.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

In regard to the legacy courses, is the Minister of State suggesting that the courses currently offered in Ballyfermot will be transferred elsewhere? He suggested that City of Dublin VEC had ten additional posts but the loss to Ballyfermot college alone could be as high as nine or ten teaching posts. This loss of teaching jobs will have an equivalent impact on lost courses. As an alternative solution, will he consider increasing the student cap so that the college can retain its current cohort of teachers and, therefore, deliver courses by increasing intake? The problems of demand for places at Ballyfermot and other colleges could be addressed if the cap on post-leaving certificate courses was increased.

Deputy Ciarán Cannon

In regard to the cap, the vast majority of PLC colleges normally have enrolment rates far beyond their formal numbers. That flexibility will remain in place. The question of whether we can commit to increasing or decreasing the cap remains part of the upcoming budgetary processes for this and coming years.

In regard to the special alleviation posts for City of Dublin VEC, these are ten whole-time equivalent posts but a significant number of tutors and teachers on these courses operate on a part-time basis. These ten whole-time equivalents may significantly enhance the opportunities for City of Dublin VEC and the college to which the Deputy referred if a number of tutors operate on a part-time basis in the colleges concerned.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

I asked the Minister of State whether it was the intention in the long term to move the legacy courses away from colleges like Ballyfermot.

Deputy Ciarán Cannon

That certainly is not the intention.