Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister that SOLAS may have a role in generating these data. I am concerned about the proposed changes in the recent budget in regard to the pupil-teacher ratio, PTR, for further education colleges, which many people use as a stepping stone to higher education, in particular people who may not have received academic qualifications on completion of their post-primary education and entered the workforce at that point and now want to access higher education. The further education stepping stone is vital to these people. This is also an issue of concern for the unions and for many of the learners to whom I have spoken during recent weeks, especially people from disadvantaged backgrounds who left post-primary education without any academic qualifications. I ask that the Minister take this into account.

As far as I am aware an impact review is being done with regard to the proposed announcement on the pupil teacher ratio. If we do not have this type of data now we must rectify this, and if this will be the role of SOLAS then so be it.

See this speech in context