Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 7: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason he has reneged upon a commitment to fund the leaving certificate vocational programme for some post-primary schools from September 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26782/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The leaving certificate vocational programme, LCVP, has been in existence since 1994 and its introduction was designed to enhance the vocational dimension of the leaving certificate. This two-year programme combines the traditional academic strengths of the leaving certificate with a focus on self-directed learning, enterprise, work and the community which are included in the link modules.

There are currently 508 second level schools offering the leaving certificate vocational programme and the programme is taken each year by approximately 10% of second level pupils. Participation in the programme is supported by an enhanced pupil:teacher ratio and by the provision of professional development support to schools and teachers. My Department received applications from ten second level schools for approval to introduce the programme in their schools from the commencement of the 2009/10 school year.

The first point to be clarified is that teaching resources will continue to be provided to the 508 in receipt of such resources and that it is the ten applicant schools that will not receive additional resources. In framing the budgets in October and April, a range of difficult choices had to be faced by Government across all areas of public expenditure, including in the field of education where in future a ceiling will apply in respect of the overall number of teachers. Clearly, any expansion of the programmes must be considered in the context of existing policies and available resources.

The first priority is to maintain existing service levels to the greatest possible extent. In the context of the limits on overall numbers employed in the public service and how they are to apply to the schools sector, it would not make sense to expand this service and further increase the upward pressure on teacher numbers at this time. The Department has, however, outlined to the schools concerned that those that wish to provide the leaving certificate vocational programme from within their existing staffing resources will be facilitated.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State is all heart.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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It is called kicking the matter to touch.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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A number of schools involved have been visited by the relevant professional development support service to discuss their proposed participation in the programme. Some schools have expressed an interest in providing the programme from within their existing staffing levels. Given that during the years approval was given regularly to schools wishing to introduce the leaving certificate vocational programme, it may be the case that schools which have submitted an application might have expected the application to be granted. The Department did not give approval at any time to any of the ten applicant schools.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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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?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The programme will continue to be provided by 508 second level schools.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I know that.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are dealing with ten applicant schools. In the current difficult financial position the priority is to maintain existing services, that is fair to say across the Department, rather than to expand. I do not have responsibility for the area in the Department; it was a decision made by the Minister in consultation with departmental officials. It was one that was necessary, however, given the difficult financial position we are in. Some schools have still expressed the desire to participate in the programme. There was an expectation because sanction had been automatic in previous years that it was just a question of applying.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Having regard to current economic circumstances, did the people who made the ultimate decision know some of their colleagues were out the previous week encouraging others to make applications? If that is the case, one side of the Department does not know what the other is doing. Does that not make manifest our assertion that the Department is essentially dysfunctional? If the Minister of State knew in October that there would be no money available, why did he allow people to go around looking for others to participate in the scheme and then, within days, send a letter from another section in the Department to them stating there was no money available?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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It was clear from the budget in October 2008 and the supplementary budget in April that a ceiling would apply to the overall number of teachers. That was the background to the decision and I have nothing further to add. I do not believe the Department is dysfunctional; I fully support the views reiterated by the Minister: the Department is trying in difficult circumstances to maintain existing programmes.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister of State realise that these are mainly early school leavers and that the benefit of the programme to them is enormous? If there is a failure to recognise this within the Department, the situation is serious. How can any Minister say to schools that they must provide the programme within existing budgets that have already been cut to the bone? The schools do not have the resources to operate the programme.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I take on board the point that we should concentrate on disadvantage in education. For that reason the commitments given on the junior certificate schools programme are being honoured under the DEIS programme, as well as commitments given in the programme for Government and elsewhere. We are trying to target our resources; that is why the commitment to expand the junior certificate schools programme is being honoured. In this case, we were talking about ten schools and difficult choices had to be made.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I am asking on the floor of the House that the Minister of State reconsider this decision for the ten schools out of 780 post-primary schools.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The schools have been contacted and we have had discussions with the professional development support service to see what its intentions are. We will see what arises from that process.