Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 550: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether the making of conditional offers on post-leaving certificate courses by further education colleges before the annual leaving certificate examinations will encourage an attitude of complacency and act as a disincentive for students during their leaving certificate exams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42690/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme provides an integrated general education, vocational training and work experience programme for young people who have completed their Leaving Certificate and adults returning to education. There are 31,688 PLC places nationwide.

Since its introduction in 1985, there has been a steady increase in older participants (age 21 and over) so that currently PLC participants are about equally divided between the school leaver cohort and participants who are older.

Applications for places on individual courses are made directly to the schools and colleges involved. Following an interview and assessment of suitability, conditional offers are usually made to applicants around May for courses beginning the following September. For school leavers, these offers are conditional on successful completion of the Leaving Certificate. This offers a clear progression route for school leavers and is an incentive towards successful completion of the Leaving Certificate.