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

I understand that the ETBs have full control over where they allocate the places. The Minister has outlined to some degree the rationale behind the decision. Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB has 150 VTOS places because that is the number it can afford to fund. It is unacceptable that the Minister has taken 20 places from a community such as Tallaght, which has major disadvantage, high rates of school dropouts and unemployment, and transferred them to another community. Balbriggan's need is as great as that of Tallaght. Additional funding is needed to provide additional VTOS places. It is unfair and incorrect to rob Peter to pay Paul. We are taking from one community in need and giving to another. It is all down to funding and resources. While I have no issue with the fact that the ETB must work with the resources it has, we need additional resources to provide additional places.

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