Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 720 to 722, inclusive, and 740 together.

The table below summarises the almost 7,000 new places on education courses that were announced as part of the Supplementary Budget. This includes an additional 1,500 PLC places in the Further Education Sector and 5,410 places in the Higher Education Sector. The position in relation to the allocation of the 1,500 PLC places is set out in my reply to Questions 15807 and 15811.

In the Higher Education Sector, it is expected that at least 2,000 unemployed people will be accommodated on full time third level courses starting this autumn. Admission to full time undergraduate courses is primarily through the CAO but there are also opportunities for direct entry through individual institutions admission offices. These 2,000 places will be funded from within overall existing resources. In addition, 1,500 places will be provided to enable persons who are unemployed to pursue third level certificate or degree programmes on a part time basis. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment will provide funding of €4m to support this initiative and arrangements for the operation of the programme are being developed jointly by officials of my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with a view to implementation from September 2009.

Following a review by the Institutes of Technology of the scope to utilise vacant capacity, to provide up-skilling for unemployed people, 280 places were made available on a direct entry basis to a range of newly developed accelerated Level 6 Certificate programmes commencing between February and April this year. Under this initiative unemployed persons were offered the opportunity to complete the first year of a standard two year programme in an accelerated manner so that they can move to the second year of the programme in September 2009. The majority of these courses are 15 weeks duration with exams being held over 1/2 weeks. These programmes are currently running in the Institutes of Technology in Athlone, Carlow, Letterkenny and Sligo. The cost of the programmes are being met from within existing resources and there is no charge to participants.

Institutes of Technology are also utilising spare capacity to provide over 900 places on a range of newly developed part time transition programmes. These programmes have been developed to assist unemployed people who may be some time out of the formal education system to find out more about the type of third level courses that may be suited to them and to build their confidence to return to education by developing some of the necessary skills for studying at third level. Courses are free of charge to participants. It is hoped that a significant number of participants on these courses will be encouraged to apply on a direct entry basis for a range of third level certificate and degree programmes commencing in September 2009. The programmes are being run on a part-time basis, with participants remaining available for opportunities to re-enter employment. The courses are being delivered over a period of 10 to 15 weeks with participants committed to between 6 and 10 contact hours per week. These programmes are currently running in the Institutes of Technology in Blanchardstown, Carlow, Cork, Dun Laoighaire, Galway-Mayo, Letterkenny, Sligo, Tallaght, Tralee and in DIT.

The accelerated programmes and third level transition courses are targeted specifically at unemployed persons. The Institutes have worked closely with local FAS and Department of Social and Family Affairs offices both in terms of marketing the courses and advising participants of their entitlements in relation to social welfare payments. Further information on these programmes is also available directly from the participating Institutes. Up to 700 additional training places are also being provided for redundant apprentices under a new Redundant Apprentice Institute of Technology Training Scheme. The purpose of this initiative to provide an opportunity to redundant apprentices who cannot otherwise secure the job placements required in order to complete their normal apprenticeship programme, to acquire additional certified skills in the education sector. Further details on this training programme are provided in my response to Question No. 15812.

The scope to further develop these initiatives and to identify other appropriate responses which the third level sector can make to support the up-skilling of unemployed people is being examined by a Higher Education Labour Market Response Group which I have asked the HEA to establish. The core membership of this Group includes representatives of the third level sector, my own Department, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, Forfas and the Secretariat to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. This Group will also provide a structure for engagement with other education and training providers in order to foster collaboration and ensure the optimal return from State resources in meeting the skills needs of the workforce. I have asked the Group to provide me with a report on its work by the end of June.

Summary of Activation Places to be provided in Education Sector as outlined in the Supplementary Budget

Questions Nos. 721 and 722 answered with Question No. 720.

Question No. 723 answered with Question No. 719.

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