Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to recent comments from the general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association that the capping on the number of students enrolling on post-leaving certificate courses could lead to cutbacks in existing courses and the loss of teachers; if he has any plans to remove the cap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9797/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Most colleges offering PLC courses are operated under the management of the vocational education committees and funding is provided for pay and non-pay costs on the basis of the approved number of places on approved courses run by the colleges.

In the current academic year the enrolments on PLC courses in certain schools and colleges have exceeded the number of places approved by my Department. Teacher allocations for 2004-05 and capitation grants have been allocated on the basis of the approved number of places or the numbers enrolled. In the 2003-04 academic year nearly 28,700 places were approved by my Department.

My Department is considering appeals from the VECs, schools and colleges for the recognition of the excess numbers enrolled for the purposes of teacher allocations and grants and a decision in the matter will be taken shortly in the light of the totality of demands for teaching resources across the system.