Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to expand the number of post-leaving certificate places available in different colleges around the country in view of the fact that it has been decided to place post-leaving certificate courses under the auspices of Solas and to need to meet increased demands for such courses. [25980/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I chair an Implementation Group which is drawing up an Action Plan for the establishment of SOLAS, which, when established, will operate under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills and co-ordinate and fund the wide range of further education and training programmes around the country. The nature and type of those programmes will be matters for discussion between my Department, SOLAS and Vocational Education Committees (VECs), who will ultimately be responsible for the delivery to the public in an integrated way of both further education and training programmes.

The number of approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places available nationwide has increased by 2,500 in recent years to 32,688, including an additional 1,000 places made available earlier this year as part of the almost 21,000 additional education, training and work experience places made available under the Government's Jobs Initiative. In 2010/2011 PLC providers enrolled over 38,700 learners which is a commendable achievement and one which I hope can be maintained for the current academic year.