Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 718: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the success of the Ballyfermot College of Further Education, Dublin 10, in having past pupils nominated for three Oscar awards recently and the fact that one won the much coveted Best Visual Effects Oscar in 2010, he will acknowledge the value of post-leaving certificate courses at this college; if he will increase the numbers of students the college can enrol in view of the fact that in 2009 less than a quarter of applicants for the courses could be accepted, and of the increased profile following the Oscar win will make the courses there even more sought after; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12273/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to congratulate the learners involved on their Oscar nominations and to congratulate in particular the winner of the 2010 Best Visual Effects Oscar. We are very proud of their achievements and as Minister for Lifelong Learning, I am very proud of the important role played by further education in their lifelong learning journey. They are a credit to themselves and their families and I would wish them all well in their future endeavours.

The Deputy will be aware that the overall number of approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places is set at its current level of 31,688 (including an additional 1,500 places allocated as part of the 2009 Supplementary Budget) because there is a continuing requirement to plan and control numbers and to manage expenditure within the context of overall educational policy and provision. This overall number of approved PLC places is being maintained for the next academic year (2010/2011).

PLC places are allocated to providers (mainly VECs) on an annual basis following an application process. It is a matter for VECs to allocate places to their colleges and institutions. Each application 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. 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. However, it is not possible to approve all the places applied for by providers in any given year.

Ballyfermot College is one of the PLC Colleges operated by City of Dublin VEC. For the current academic year (2009/2010), City of Dublin VEC was allocated a total of 7,538 PLC places (including 180 of the additional 1,500 places referred to above). Any application by City of Dublin VEC for additional PLC places for 2010/2011 will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the constraints outlined above.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 719: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of post-leaving certificate places available in each college; and the number of applicants for each college term 2009/2010. [12274/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the details sought by the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 720: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps that he has taken to remove or change the cap of 13,000 on available post-leaving certificate places which is preventing thousands of young persons from gaining the education required to prepare for jobs as the recession abates. [12275/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 31,688 approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places nationwide. This includes an additional 1,500 places approved in the context of the Supplementary Budget in April 2009. The 2010 budget for my Department has been framed on the basis that the approved number of PLC places for the next academic year will remain at 31,688. The overall number of approved PLC places is set at its current level because there is a continuing requirement to plan and control public service numbers and to manage expenditure within the context of overall educational policy and provision.