Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
99. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to provide continuing education facilities in Ballincollig, County Cork for school leavers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43297/20]
View answerOfficials in my Department have contacted Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) in relation to this matter. At present there are several options available to school leavers through the further education and training services provided by CETB in close proximity to Ballincollig.
The Ballincollig Youthreach centre provides two years integrated education, training and work experience for unemployed early school leavers without any qualifications or vocational training who are between 16 and 20 years of age.
Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses are provided by CETB colleges in Cork City, all within 10KM of Ballincollig. These are full-time courses lasting one to two years, offering a mixture of practical work, academic work and work experience. The courses generally led to major awards at National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) levels 5 & 6.
Cork Training Centre, 5KM from Ballincollig, delivers apprenticeship and long and short specific skills training courses across a wide range of specialisms, on a full and part-time basis.
Back to Education (BTEI), adult and community education courses are delivered in Ballincollig, catering to adult learners returning to education and learners who wish to reengage with education and training. While BTEI provides part-time further education courses to anyone who has left full-time education, priority will be given to those with less than upper second-level education.
In addition to these services, CETB works with a number of community groups and organisations in Ballincollig and the region to support and deliver courses where specific needs have been identified.
