Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 131: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will confirm having received a submission from the Teachers Union of Ireland inquiring whether sufficient funding will be put in place in the 2006 budget Estimates to commence the implementation of the recommendations in the McIver report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35074/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can confirm to the Deputy that, in its pre-budget submission dated 3 November 2005, the TUI recommended that no less than €50 million be provided in 2006 to commence the implementation of the recommendations contained in the McIver report on the PLC sector.

The McIver report on the PLC sector 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; and improvements in student library, IT and social facilities and capital infrastructure.

Having regard to the number and scope of the recommendations in the report, extensive consultations have been held with management and staff interests with regard to such issues as the prioritisation of recommendations, the structural changes envisaged in the report, their implications and associated costs in the context of the overall provision of resources for further and adult education. These consultations are continuing.