Dr. Emer Smyth:

On the post leaving certificate, PLC, programme issue, our ESRI research has shown it enhances employment opportunities for young people and it also enhances progression to higher education. However, there are the barriers to which the Deputy referred. In terms of pathways, the institutes of technology, as they were established, were generally more open to developing specific pathways and recognising the prior learning of those coming in having completed PLC courses. There is more that could be done at university level to enhance and enrich those pathways.