Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 719: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of colleges operating here that run post-leaving certificate courses; the number of these colleges which will benefit from the 1,500 further places announced in the supplementary budget on 7 April 2009; the average number of additional places being allocated under his plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15807/09]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 723: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will explain what the 1,500 places in post-leaving certificate courses announced in the supplementary budget on 7 April 2009 entail; the persons who are open to apply for them; the typical duration of same; the amount these places will cost to run; the institutions which will offer these courses; the efforts being made by his Department to ensure that these 1,500 places are being targeted towards people who are unemployed; the way the admission process to these places will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15811/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 719 and 723 together.

The 2009 provision for the 1,500 additional PLC places is €4 million. The estimated full year cost in 2010 is €12 million. Currently, there are 30,188 PLC places available in some 195 approved schools and centres nationwide. PLC courses are provided predominantly in the VEC sector, but some community and comprehensive schools and secondary schools also provide courses. PLC courses are full-time and generally of one year's duration. PLC courses cater for school leavers and adults who want to return to education, including those who are unemployed and those at risk of becoming unemployed. They are designed to provide successful participants with specific vocational skills to enhance their prospects of securing lasting, full-time employment, or progression to other studies. A priority for this Government is to support those who have lost their jobs through retraining and further education and I know in this context that individual VECs will be conscious of the need to adjust provision to meet these priorities.

My Department allocates PLC places to VECs and other providers on an annual basis following an application process. Each application is examined by my Department on its merits, taking into account current and previous allocations, current and previous demand and uptake and the overall number of places available. Regard is also had in this context to ensuring appropriate provision on a geographic basis and the necessary critical mass for delivery of a quality education service. In addition, providers must demonstrate a labour market justification for the courses being proposed.

The application process for the 2009/2010 academic year concluded recently. No decision has been made yet with regard to the allocation of the additional 1,500 places but any allocations would be considered in light of the factors set out above. To enrol on a PLC course, people should contact their local VEC or PLC provider.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 720: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of the 3,500 third level places announced in the supplementary budget on 7 April 2009 which are full time places; the number which are part-time places; the amount these 3,500 places will cost to run; if the additional places have been allocated to specific courses in third level institutions; if the admission to same will be through the standard CAO process following the publication of the leaving certificate results in August; if not, the way admission will be administered to them; the efforts being made by his Department to ensure that these 3,500 places are being targeted towards people who are unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15808/09]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 721: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will explain what the 280 accelerated certificate programme places announced in the recent supplementary budget on 7 April 2009 entail; the persons who are open to apply for them; the typical duration of same; the amount these places will cost to run; the institutions which will offer these courses; the efforts being made by his Department to ensure that these 280 places are being targeted towards people who are unemployed; the way the admission process to these places will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15809/09]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 722: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will explain what the 930 places in third level transition courses announced in the supplementary budget on 7 April 2009 entail; the persons who are open to apply for them; the typical duration of same; the amount these places will cost to run; the institutions which will offer these courses; the efforts being made by his Department to ensure that these 930 places are being targeted towards people who are unemployed; the way the admission process to these places will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15810/09]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 740: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide details of the 7,000 new places on education courses that were recently announced by him; the location from which the course will operate; the person who will provide them; when they will commence; the criteria for qualification; and the way interested people can apply or obtain further information. [15952/09]

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