Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the numbers of students, on a county basis, who progressed to higher education courses as a result of qualifications gained from participating in post leaving certificate courses in 2011/12. [2669/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The PLC programme provides an integrated general education, vocational training and work experience programme for young people who have completed their leaving certificate and for adults returning to education. The specific breakdown requested of numbers progressing from PLC courses to higher education is not available as the Higher Education Authority does not hold data on new entrants by previous qualification. This is, perhaps, something which might be done by SOLAS when it comes into existence.

Recent information from the CAO shows that the number of applicants who are offered and accept a place based on presenting a FETAC qualification has increased significantly from 599 in 2001 to 3,065 in 2012. The higher education links scheme, which links specific further education qualifications to reserved places in higher education institutions, is being continually developed to improve progression opportunities from further education to higher education in 40 universities, institutes of technology and private colleges.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I agree with the Minister that SOLAS may have a role in generating these data. I am concerned about the proposed changes in the recent budget in regard to the pupil-teacher ratio, PTR, for further education colleges, which many people use as a stepping stone to higher education, in particular people who may not have received academic qualifications on completion of their post-primary education and entered the workforce at that point and now want to access higher education. The further education stepping stone is vital to these people. This is also an issue of concern for the unions and for many of the learners to whom I have spoken during recent weeks, especially people from disadvantaged backgrounds who left post-primary education without any academic qualifications. I ask that the Minister take this into account.

As far as I am aware an impact review is being done with regard to the proposed announcement on the pupil teacher ratio. If we do not have this type of data now we must rectify this, and if this will be the role of SOLAS then so be it.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Today the Cabinet passed the draft SOLAS legislation and it will be circulated. With the agreement of the whips I hope to take it soon. As I have stated previously, SOLAS will become for the further education sector what the Higher Education Authority is for higher education. The type of statistical information about which the Deputy has asked and which is not available must become available so we can tailor courses to meet the increasing demand from people who are not making their way into further and higher education through the qualifications framework and the traditional post-primary school route of the CAO and points system. All of the information I have received indicates the split between those going through the CAO and points system and others will further equalise to the point where it could be 50:50 in years to come. We must have this information to ensure the stepping stone courses, to which the Deputy referred, which enable somebody to get into a "mainstream" university or institution of technology course must be properly provided, and to do this we need data to understand the nature of demand and its location. As I see it, SOLAS will do this.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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This would certainly be welcome. A concern about the proposed budget changes is that some courses may have to be discontinued. During the Private Members' debate last week it was stated that it is down to the CEOs and principals of further education colleges to prioritise the courses which need to be protected. In the absence of this data it will be difficult for them to do so, and this needs to be addressed. It will not be a particular focus of the SOLAS legislation, but when SOLAS is up and running this is the type of thing it needs to do.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I agree with the Deputy and the sooner we make progress in this area the better.