Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

Most colleges offering post-leaving certificate courses are operated under the management of the vocational education committees. Funding is provided for pay and non-pay costs on the basis of the approved number of places on approved courses run by the colleges.

In the current academic year, enrolments on post-leaving certificate courses in certain schools and colleges have exceeded the number of places approved by my Department. Teacher allocations for 2004-05 and capitation grants have been allocated on the basis of the approved number of places or the numbers enrolled. During the 2003-04 academic year, almost 28,700 places were approved by my Department. It is considering appeals from vocational education committees, schools and colleges for the recognition of the excess numbers enrolled for the purposes of teacher allocations and grants. A decision on the matter will be taken shortly in light of the totality of demands for teaching resources across the system.

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