Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the 100 new teaching posts provided for the further education colleges are concessionary posts; if these posts will be available in 2006-07; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40113/05]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason only 74.29 posts have been taken up by schools out of the 96.25 made available in colleges of further education (details supplied); if this has anything to do with new posts being concessionary posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40116/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 427 together.

Teacher allocations for second level schools and PLC colleges are approved by the Department on an annual basis in accordance with generally applied rules based on recognised pupil enrolments on 30 of September of the preceding school year. Each school management authority is required to organise its curriculum, teaching timetable and subject options having regard to pupils' needs within the limits of its approved teacher allocation. The number of posts in any particular school-VEC which can be filled in a permanent capacity in a given year is based on the approved teacher allocation warranted by the enrolment of the preceding September and the approved ex-quota posts such as principal, guidance, remedial etc.

Following the decision to provide for 100 extra post leaving certificate posts, the Department approved a total of 1,600 extra places in PLC courses for the 2005-06 school year. While the resulting increases in enrolment would not impact on the approved teacher allocation for 2005-06, it was open to school authorities to apply for additional concessionary teaching resources to cater for this increased enrolment on a current year basis.

School authorities which applied for this increased allocation were granted additional posts on a concessionary basis for the 2005-06 school year. Approximately 74 whole time equivalent posts have been granted on this basis for 2005-06.

Recognised pupil enrolment at 30 September 2005 will form the basis of approved teacher allocations for the 2006-07 school year. Additional posts arising from increased enrolment in September 2005 may be filled on a permanent basis, where appropriate, in the 2006-07 school year.

Officials in the Department are in consultation with the relevant authorities to ensure, in so far as possible, any entitlement to new resources under this initiative is applied this year. I am anxious that the schools would take up these posts.