James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of post leaving certificate places he envisages that will be provided from September 2010; his views on the removal of the cap on further appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10829/10]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans to lift the cap on post leaving certificate places to cope with rising demand. [10861/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 20 together.

The post leaving certificate, PLC, provides an integrated general education, vocational training and work experience programme for young people who have completed their leaving certificate and adults returning to education. Its purpose is to enhance their prospects of gaining employment or progressing to further or higher education.

Approval of PLC places involves incurring expenditure on teacher salaries, non-pay funding and means tested student support grants. Teachers are appointed to deliver PLC courses on the basis of a pupil-teacher ratio of 17:1 compared to the 19:1 ratio that applies to second level teaching. In addition, non-pay funding related to student numbers is also provided. Finally, students who satisfy the terms of the student support schemes are eligible to receive maintenance grants. Taking all these factors into account, it is estimated that approval for each additional 1,000 PLC places costs about €8 million.

In the current academic year, the number of PLC places approved for funding by my Department is 31,688. This includes an additional 1,500 places approved in the context of the supplementary budget in April 2009. The 2010 budget for my Department has been framed on the basis that the approved number of PLC places for the next academic year will remain at 31,688. The overall number of approved PLC places is set at its current level because there is a continuing requirement to plan and control public service numbers and to manage expenditure within the context of overall educational policy and provision.

However, it is important to note in that regard that the annual returns from PLC providers indicate that enrolments on PLC courses in the current academic year are in excess of 38,600. This is a commendable achievement by the providers of PLC courses and I would hope that this could be repeated in the next academic year.

It is also important that we do not view PLC provision in isolation from other programmes to provide for re-skilling and up-skilling. It is estimated that over 170,000 learners will avail of part-time and full-time further education programmes in 2010. In addition, the total number of full-time enrolments in universities and institutes of technology is estimated at more than 150,000 for the 2009 to 2010 academic year.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The question was about whether we will have more PLC places next year. It is good that we have managed to effectively increase the number by approximately 8,000 between the 1,500 additional places and the 6,500 places which have come from the sector. The problem is that when unemployment was at 150,000 three years ago, there were 30,000 places. Unemployment is now more than 440,000 and there are only 38,000 places.

Besides the colleges doing their bit, what additional support can the Minister of State offer through his Department to the colleges to get more people on to PLC courses, which are excellent courses, flexible, good value for money and really meet the need of many people who are currently unemployed?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I accept the PLC programme is a very important one, in particular in the current context and having regard to our economic situation. As a result of that, we were able to increase the number of PLC places by 1,500 last year. As I said, the work of the PLC colleges and the additional enrolments are very much appreciated by my Department.

I am not in a position to say what the position will be next year in regard to PLC provision other than to say a Cabinet committee on economic renewal is constantly looking at the issue of employment activation, further education, FÁS provision, higher education provision and so forth. From my point of view, as Minister of State with responsibility for adult education and continuing education, the PLC programme is vitally important at this time of the economic cycle.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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If he has the information available to him, will the Minister of State indicate the cost of an additional PLC place above and beyond the cap, otherwise he might communicate it to me?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Some 1,000 PLC places cost €8 million. That is taking into account maintenance grants and so on.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State and I had the opportunity to attend an Aontas public meeting last week and the key issue brought to our attention was the crisis affecting many older students in terms of the back to education allowance. The Minister of State said he would look into the issue to see if greater flexibility could be shown to those students in the PLC sector. Has he given any consideration to that?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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We had a very good exchange of views at the Aontas lobby for learning seminar last Friday on this issue of the payment of the back to education allowance and the maintenance grant. This must be seen as a duplication of income support payments. It must also be seen in the context of the reduction in the rates of social welfare introduced in budget 2010 last December.

I undertook to clarify certain issues in that regard and I know there is a later parliamentary question on this, although I do not know if we will reach it. Some of the students present were not sure whether they would continue on the same course or whether they would go on to a new course. As the Deputy knows, if one continues on the same course, there is no change for existing students. I intend to clarify that, especially in view of the particular circumstances of the students who raised their situations with me.