Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising the question as it provides me with an opportunity to underline a number of points. Post-leaving certificate courses provide the young people and adults who take part in them with a tremendous opportunity to return to education. It is important to note that these courses are seen as providing development from the bottom up. They respond to a need within the community. There is concern about the numbers who wish to take up post-leaving certificate courses and the extent to which vocational education committees and schools wish to make provision.

We must examine the numbers interested in taking up post-leaving certificate courses. There are two interesting statistics to note. During the academic year 1997-98, there were 21,278 enrolments on these courses and 28,656 during 2002-03. A total of 37,900 places was sought in the year 2002-03. While we should welcome the need for further courses given the bottom-up nature of the development they provide, growth must be managed. I have ensured that my Department takes part in discussions with the Irish Vocational Education Association, IVEA, and, to that end, a meeting took place yesterday. Tomorrow, officials from my Department will take part in a meeting with the Teachers' Union of Ireland, TUI.

I willingly accept that post-leaving certificate courses represent an important element of our further education provision. We recognise the growth in the numbers of those seeking to enrol on courses. Our aim is to manage that growth.

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