Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will revisit his decision to cut a leaving certificate vocational programme at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal in view of the fact that plans have already been made by the school for the delivery of the programme in September 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26868/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) has been in existence since 1994 and was designed to enhance the vocational dimension of the Leaving Certificate (Established). This two-year programme combines the academic strengths of the Leaving Certificate (Established) with a focus on self-directed learning, enterprise, work and the community which are included in the Link Modules.

My Department received applications from 10 second level schools for approval to introduce the programme in their schools from the commencement of the 2009/10 school year.

In framing the budget in October and again in April, a range of very difficult policy choices had to be faced by the Government across all areas of public expenditure, including in the field of education where in future a ceiling will apply to the overall number of teachers . Clearly any expansion in programmes has to be considered in the context of existing policies and available resources. In the context of the budgetary constraints the first priority is to maintain existing service levels to the greatest extent possible. In the context of the limits on overall numbers employed in the public service and how that is to apply to the school sector it simply would not make sense to expand this service and to further increase the upward pressure on teacher numbers at this time.

My Department has, however, outlined to the schools concerned that those who wish to provide the LCVP programme from within their existing staffing resources will be facilitated.