Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

Question 5: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that will be caused to a college (details supplied) in County Dublin as a result of the 560 cap imposed on post-leaving certificate student numbers, and the increase in the pupil-teacher ratio from 16:1 to 17:1, which will cause a reduction of 1.6 teachers in September 2009 and a further 3.2 teachers in September 2010 and the decision to discontinue apprenticeship courses in block laying in April 2009, and carpentry and joinery apprenticeship courses in April 2010, resulting in permanent whole-time teachers having no teaching hours; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that growth areas exist in the building industry that will experience a skills shortage into the future; his views on whether it would make more economic sense to utilise highly qualified teaching staff to train people to provide for such skills shortages rather than fitting staff into a teaching situation that is incompatible with their qualifications; if he will agree to raise the capped post-leaving certificate numbers by 28 in September 2009, and a further 56 in September 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8200/09]

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