Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House; he is spending quite some time with us in his roles at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Education and Science.

In the past year 110,664 people have joined the live register. Direct entry to the labour market for school leavers is much reduced and, where it still exists, it is a highly competitive environment. Part of the Labour Party's response to people losing their jobs in such massive numbers and to the lack of employment opportunities in the economic crisis is to provide higher and further education places. It is strategically more sensible to provide educational opportunities rather than the dole for people with the capability to avail of that opportunity.

The recent CAO application figures reveal that there will be in the region of a 10% increase in demand for college places for next September. As a result of these record application numbers, if college places remain as they are, there will be approximately two applicants for every place available. In his contribution, the Minister of State expressed concern that such reports create unnecessary anxiety for school leavers, their parents and other potential students. Senator Keaveney attempted to provide some comfort when she stated the increase in the number of applications is fairly routine and part of a trend and that everything appears to be fine. My understanding of the figures is that the ratio of 1.6:1 is based on the number of initial on-line applications. A number of applications were made other than on-line and late applications will also be made. Parents, school leavers and prospective students have legitimate concerns. There is little comfort in knowing whether the figure will be 1.6:1 or 2:1 and I ask the Minister of State to take that message back to the Department.

It is great news that so many people are turning to education as a means to prepare for the economic upturn, whenever it may come. Unfortunately, there will be bad news for the many who fail to get into college or start the course of their choice because the points have increased beyond their reach. Points for courses in the arts, business and science are set to rise with an ensuing increase in competition for places. We must not return to the points race of the past which was fuelled by demand or lack of capacity. Leaving certificate students who are almost three quarters of the way through their studies should still have a chance of getting the courses they have chosen and for which they have been working so hard. It will be devastating for many if points increase at such a late stage and many qualified prospective students will miss out.

Those who have lost their jobs must not be prevented from getting the chance to improve their skills and, therefore, employability. Despite some changes in the past year, the Government has not provided sufficient places and more must be done in response to increased demand. Unfortunately, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, has stated that there will no more money for places. It is disingenuous to say there is no cap if colleges are not given the resources they need to deliver additional places.

I disagree with Senator Ó Brolcháin's contention that fees are not being charged. The Joint Committee on Education and Science recently heard from representatives of the Higher Education Authority who take the view that are fees are charged at third level. Students recognise they are paying fees. One can call them registration charges if one likes but they have nevertheless increased from €900 to €1,500. The Government's response has been to hold back the increased amount in fees from colleges' budgets. Let us not be fooled, therefore.

In response to Deputy Gilmore's comments in the other House, the Taoiseach stated the HEA will monitor demand, identify opportunities to maximise places and respond to growing demand within existing and available resources. This approach is not good enough if it is the intention to stick rigidly to existing resources. We should by all means maximise the number of places for the existing budget first but additional resources must be made available as required. Growing demand at least calls for a preparedness to make additional resources available. Post-leaving certificate course numbers have been capped and must be increased. Apprenticeships have almost collapsed owing to the downturn and this route to skilled employment is almost closed off for young people. With the massive increase in jobless numbers, many redundant workers are seeking to go to college as mature students. An estimated 14% of the current batch of first year college students are over 23 and classified as mature. This figure is set to increase significantly next September.

When redundant young workers come to me for advice, I tell them to look for an educational opportunity for two to three years to upskill for the recovery. We must not close off that avenue for this group of people. Strategically and from an economic point of view it is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, teaching resources are being reduced in third level colleges. The number of full-time staff in our institutions dropped by 350 last year. At a time when student numbers are increasing, vacancies are going unfilled because of an embargo on recruitment and trained teachers are being left on the dole. The irony is that the Government is abandoning young people who, instead of benefiting from education, will find themselves on the dole alongside trained teachers.

The Taoiseach sounded hollow when he informed the Dáil that he hopes additional places can be provided but that no extra money will be available. He stated that the Minister for Education and Science will continue to work through the Higher Education Authority to maximise the use of existing and available resources in response to growing demand. At the same time the HEA is warning about capping numbers to protect the quality of higher education. A realignment in thinking between the Minister and the HEA is urgently required.

Unless the Government acts to increase the number of college and further education places, young people will be denied the courses for which they have worked so hard and those who have lost their jobs will be denied a second chance. They will remain on the dole indefinitely. The Government must act now in conjunction with the HEA to provide the necessary places by September. This should be a natural and instinctive response to the economic crisis. It should be part of our economic stimulus. It is not something that should be resisted by the Government because it is a question of being ready for the upturn whenever it comes. One of the main factors behind the Celtic tiger was our educated workforce and the large expansion of the third level sector. Ensuring access will help to drive the recovery.