Mr. Paddy Lavelle:

Deputies McConalogue and Ó Snodaigh asked about raising the pupil-teacher ratio for post-leaving certificate courses. The pupil-teacher ratio increased to 19:1, which had an impact on the number of teachers available to teach in post leaving certificate colleges. It reduced the capacity of a college to be as flexible as it might have been. The effect was felt in the provision of courses with smaller numbers, as the colleges had to ensure the numbers were as high as possible. The cap is a separate issue, and probably less of an issue this year than it was previously, as the numbers coming to post leaving certificate courses this year were lower throughout the country than they had been in previous years. This is for a number of reasons.

There are many changes in respect of Intreo as well as other external factors that changed the profile of the students coming to us at post leaving certificate level.

Reference was made to the impact on the pupil-teacher ratio. It reduces the number of teachers available to the colleges. Principally, this has the effect of reducing flexibility in terms of provision and the number of courses we can put on. In general, the post leaving certificate courses reflect the skills needs in the areas they serve. Generally speaking, the courses are aimed at providing skills that are needed in the economy. Obviously, changes in recent years have affected us and certain courses have become almost redundant, especially those related to the construction sector, as was the case in respect of apprenticeships. This has affected the colleges and resulted in a surplus of teachers in some areas. That is the type of thing that has happened. In general, the post leaving certificate colleges are thriving. Reference was made to the fact that they are oversubscribed. Most of them are still oversubscribed to a large extent.

Deputy McConalogue asked a question about amalgamation. From the point of view of the education and training boards, the amalgamation has gone far more sweetly than we had anticipated. We had many fears around it. Most people facing any kind of major shift or merger would have big fears about such a change. Thanks to our work with SOLAS in respect of the training centres coming across and through our work with the other vocational education committees prior to the amalgamation, many of the problems were anticipated. That does not mean we are without problems. This is a long, slow burner. The first further education and training strategy runs until 2019 and we do not expect to have everything done in the next two or three years. We are engaged in a long process to ensure the system we operate provides the best service possible to the learners with whom we engage.