Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress being made on the implementation of the Mclver report recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7867/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The McIver report on the post-leaving certificate review was commissioned by my Department to examine the sector and make recommendations regarding the organisational, support, development, technical and administrative structures and resources required in schools and colleges with large scale post-leaving certificate, PLC, provision, having regard to good practice in related areas across the system and in other countries. The final report was completed in April 2003.

The report contains 21 over-arching recommendations, incorporating over 90 sub-recommendations. The principal recommendations are: a reduction in the number of timetabled class teaching hours and appropriate increases in staff to compensate; enhancement of senior and middle management structures to allow more time for assessment, student support and interaction, team development and cross curricular planning, industry liaison and quality assurance processes; an increase in technical and administrative support staff; improvements in student library, IT and social facilities and capital infrastructure; new programme support services.

My Department is currently engaged in discussions with the Irish Vocational Education Association about the structural changes envisaged in the report, their implications and costs.