Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

Therefore, the upshot is that the Minister of State will allow the ten schools to take part in the leaving certificate vocational programme but will not give them any money; that will be the position from next September. I am not sure who made this decision - the Minister of State or the Minister - but departmental officials were touting for schools to offer the programme in March. In April the ten schools in question were informed that funding would be provided. but then on 10 June they received letters telling them there was no money and that they could not have the scheme funded in September, despite the fact that teachers had been trained for it, kids were ready for it and timetables had been drawn up. The carpet was pulled from under them. Did the Minister of State make the decision?

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