Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 230 of 29 April 2009, if the application process for post leaving certificate courses in the 2009-10 academic year has concluded; if so, the way the 1,500 places allocated to post leaving certificate providers in the 7 April 2009 budget are to be offered to the public; the way the extra places being offered are to be targeted towards the unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19256/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The application process for the 2009/2010 Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Programme was completed on 1 April 2009 with the allocation of approved places to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and other providers.

As part of the process, each application is examined by my Department on its merits, taking into account current and previous allocations, current and previous demand and uptake and the overall number of places available. Regard is also had in this context to ensuring appropriate provision on a geographic basis and the necessary critical mass for delivery of a quality education service. In addition, providers must demonstrate a labour market justification for the courses being proposed.

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 VECs will be conscious of the need to adjust provision to meet these priorities. A decision with regard to the allocation of the additional 1,500 places will be made shortly and any allocations will be considered in light of the factors set out above.