Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the decision to cap the number of student places in the post leaving certificate sector in view of the 7 April 2009 budget decision and the need for more education and training opportunities for school leavers and others, the impact the cap will have on the number of teachers in PLC colleges and the need for communities experiencing serious levels of unemployment to have access to further training and upskilling opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16615/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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As a result of the decisions in the April 7 budget an additional 1,500 Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places will be made available nationwide from September 2009. This will bring the total number of approved PLC places to 31,688 in the next academic year and will also involve the approval of additional teaching posts.

A priority for this Government is to support those who have lost their jobs through retraining and further education and I know, in this context, that individual PLC providers will be conscious of the need to adjust provision to meet these priorities. The PLC programme provides successful participants with specific vocational skills to enhance their prospects of securing lasting, full-time employment, or progression to other studies. The allocation of these extra 1,500 PLC places is another step in expanding opportunities and broadening access to further education so that people can enhance their employment skills.