Written answers

Thursday, 4 March 2010

Department of Education and Science

Further Education

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the problems for a college (details supplied) in County Dublin as a result of a decision by the Higher Education Authority to reduce the number of apprentice blocks by 50%, thus reducing the number of teachers by 6.4; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the teachers in question are all permanent members of staff and that this problem could be solved by allowing the college an increase in capped numbers of 112 students over a period of years and by offering courses in the following areas, furniture design, furniture and antique and restoration, renewable construction technology, insulation building technology, renewable energy technology, boatbuilding for the leisure industry and craft in musical instrument making, courses for which demand exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10655/10]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the downturn in the construction sector has resulted in a significant fall off in the numbers of apprentices being recruited nationally. The number of FÁS registered apprentices requiring education and training has dropped from 8,300 in 2006 to 1,535 in 2009, a reduction of more than 80%.

Construction related trades have been particularly affected. The Higher Education Authority has consulted widely with individual institutions on the impact of the reduction in these numbers on the level of apprenticeship provision in the education sector. Having regard to the inputs received, and to enable the necessary reductions in education provision for the construction and related trades to be implemented on an objective basis across the country, an independent evaluation panel was established to advise the HEA in relation to the appropriate levels of provision which should be maintained within the education sector having regard to likely future demand to 2014.

Following completion of this process each educational institution was informed of the proposed allocations of apprentice provision as recommended by the evaluation panel. These reductions are due to be implemented on a phased basis over the period to 2014. With regard to the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Programme, there are 31,688 places available nationwide, including an additional 1,500 places made available in April 2009 as part of the Supplementary budget. Most of these places are allocated to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) on an annual basis following an application process. It is then a matter for VECs to allocate those places to their colleges and institutions.

Each application for an increase in capped numbers is examined by my Department on its merits, taking into account current and previous allocations, current and previous demand and uptake, the overall places available and the overall demand from VECs generally. The application process for the 2010/2011 academic year is ongoing. Any application from a VEC for additional places will be considered on its own merits, taking into account all relevant circumstances.

The overall number of approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places is set at its current level because there is a continuing requirement to plan and control numbers and to manage expenditure within the context of overall educational policy and provision. For the academic year 2008/2009, the VEC concerned had 2,048 approved PLC places. In the initial allocation for 2009/2010, the VEC received an additional 28 places and then of the additional 1,500 announced in April 2009, the VEC received an additional 75 places, bringing their total allocation for 2009/2010 to 2,151.

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