Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am interested to hear from the Minister of State if the VECs that provided him with the impact assessments indicated that the 25 posts he is now allocating on a transitional basis will ensure they would not have to discontinue any courses. From my engagement with them I would be very surprised if that was the case. The education committee visited Ballyfermot College of Further Education recently and its staff were very concerned about the impact of this measure. In terms of the cap, they have been enrolling numbers well over the cap, but as a result of this increase, they may not be able to do that any more. That means students will not now be able to engage in the further education sector as a result of this particular cut. It is those students who need our help because in many cases they would have been failed by the system in the past. It also affects students who are looking to make themselves ready for the work sector and for whom colleges like Ballyfermot College of Further Education has a strong track record in finding employment.

See this speech in context