Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the required changes will be made to the structures in the further education and post leaving certificate schools; and if they will be given the resources necessary to fulfil their important role in the education system. [4859/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on including the further education and post leaving certificate schools in the same administrative and funding structures as the secondary schools which does not serve the real needs of those attending fee type courses. [4860/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.

This Government believes strongly in the value of this sector and will continue to prioritise it for resources and supports in the years ahead. Improving participation and achievement at every level of education is a key priority. We have put the resources and supports in place to ensure a wide range of course options is available in the further and higher education sectors for young people who wish to continue their studies after second level and for people returning to education later in life.

The principal objectives of the measures and programmes funded by my Department in adult and further education are to meet the needs of young early school leavers, to provide second chance education for adults and to provide vocational education and training for labour market entrants and re-entrants. A range of measures is available to ensure these objectives, including Youthreach, senior Traveller training centres, the vocational training opportunities scheme, post leaving certificate courses and part-time initiatives such as the back to education initiative and the adult literacy and community education schemes. These programmes are funded by my Department and are operated and managed primarily by the Vocational Education Committees throughout the country.

Further education is expanding. In the literacy sector, adult literacy client numbers have increased from 5,000 in 1997 to approximately 34,000 in 2005. Post leaving certificate, PLC, courses represent another option which is available within the further education suite. The Government's support for this hugely important sector is clear from the fact that we have increased the number of PLC places by 60% since 1996-1997. The number of PLC places approved for 2005-2006 is up by more than 1,600 on the 2004-2005 level. The number of approved places in the sector now stands at 30,188.

Government support for the sector is evident not only in the expansion of approved places and teachers, but also in the introduction of maintenance grants for students with effect from September 1998. Tuition fees for PLC courses are waived. The PLC maintenance grant scheme operates on the same basis as in higher education. The figure for PLC grant holders in 2005 is approximately 8,000 and they will receive approximately €23 million in direct support.

The 2006 Estimates include provision for the cost of the extra 100 teaching posts being provided for the post leaving certificate courses in the current academic year. They also provide for an increase of 19% in the VTOS non-pay grant in 2006. PLC students are included in the calculation of non-pay budgets issued to schools in respect of running costs. A supplemental non-pay grant towards running costs specifically for PLC schools is also payable. This will amount to €5.5 million in 2005.

Other developments funded by my Department of direct benefit to the PLC sector include the provision of national certification under the Further Education and Training Awards Council and the development of progression links with higher education in the institutes of technology. The McIver report contains 21 over-arching recommendations, incorporating 91 sub-recommendations. 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. Active consideration is given to all the issues involved. While this work is ongoing, extra investment has been provided in the 2006 Estimates to develop the further education sector and to improve supports for other aspects of further and adult education.