Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he intends lifting the cap on enrolments to post leaving certificate courses. [14585/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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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 2004-2005 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. Officials from my Department have already had meetings with management representatives in the sector and the Teachers Union of Ireland to hear their concerns. They have also received submissions from a number of VECs about their particular needs.

My Department is currently considering appeals from the VECs, schools and colleges for the recognition of the excess numbers enrolled for the purposes of teacher allocations and grants. A decision on the matter will be taken shortly in the light of the totality of demands for teaching resources across the system. I expect that additional justifiable needs identified in the examination being carried out by my Department will result in the provision of additional teaching resources.