Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-leaving certificate places available in County Wicklow; the location of these places in County Wicklow; the way this number compares with the number of places available in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24911/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Co. Wicklow Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) operates the PLC programme in County Wicklow. The number of approved PLC places in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 is as follows

- 2006/2007 academic year

- 990 PLC places2007/2008 academic year

- 990 PLC places2008/2009 academic year

- 950 PLC places2009/2010 academic year

- 980 PLC places2010/2011 academic year

- 980 PLC places2011/2012 academic year

- 1,040 PLC places

The reduction in the number of PLC places allocated to Co Wicklow VEC in the 2008/2009 academic year was as a result of the VEC not utilising it's full allocation in the previous year. The increase in the 2009/2010 allocation was in response to increased demand and the allocation of 1,500 additional PLC places nationally.

An additional 60 PLC places were allocated to the VEC in the current academic year as part of the recent Jobs Initiative whereby 1,000 additional PLC places were made available nationally.