Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the situation in Dún Laoghaire College of Further Education, Dublin, in which, due to a reduction in apprentice places and a cap on student places, six courses are in jeopardy and ten teachers will not be used to full capacity, while ten other teachers will lose their jobs; if he will consider increasing the cap by 175; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14539/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the downturn in the construction sector has resulted in a significant fall off in the numbers of apprentices being recruited nationally. In 2009, an independent evaluation panel was established to advise the Higher Education Authority (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. The panel recommended a reduction in provision in Dún Laoghaire College of Further Education (DLCFE) from 24 blocks in the 2009/2010 academic year to 12 blocks in 2014. The full reduction is being phased in over the period 2010 to 2014.

In 2011/2012 the college will provide 2 blocks for the first and second term and 3 blocks for the third term, a reduction in provision which will require a reduction of 5.84 whole time equivalent (WTE) teachers in the DLCFE teacher allocation. DLCFE is an approved PLC centre under the management of Dun Laoghaire Vocational Education Committee (VEC). On an annual basis, my Department allocates approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places to VECs and other providers. VECs are responsible for the allocation of places to approved PLC centres under their remit.

Dún Laoghaire VEC's current allocation of approved PLC places is 2,151, which includes 28 places specifically allocated for the 2009/2010 academic year to compensate for the loss of apprenticeship blocks and a further 75 places allocated for the 2009/2010 academic year as part of the 2009 Supplementary Budget.

Dún Laoghaire VEC's allocation of approved PLC places was maintained for the 2011/2012 academic year. As part of the recently announced Jobs Initiative, provision has been made for the allocation of a further 1,000 PLC places, targeted at the unemployed. Providers were invited to apply for these places and I understand that Dún Laoghaire VEC has submitted an application, highlighting the issue raised by the Deputy. Officials in my Department are currently evaluating these applications and providers will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I am anxious to support the higher education sector in responding to future demand for growth in participation. This future growth needs to be reconciled with limitations on public resources and a need to protect and enhance core quality. Although the nature of these difficult trade-offs are described in the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, the strategy also identifies the need for more detailed analysis. In this regard, I have asked the Higher Education Authority to undertake further work on the sustainability of the existing funding framework over the course of this year. This work will inform consideration by Government of policy options in relation to future funding of the sector.