Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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299. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider phasing in the larger pupil-teacher ratio in vocational education committee schools over a longer time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25919/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The pupil teacher ratio (PTR) for the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme is due to change from 17:1 to 19:1 with effect from 1 September 2013 for the 2013/2014 academic year in accordance with the decision taken by the Government last year as part of the budgetary process. I have no plans to phase in this PTR increase. However, Chief Executive Officers of Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) were invited to forward impact statements to my Department on the effect of this regression on their PLC provision. A review of these impact statements was conducted having regard to the need to operate within overall budgetary constraints and the Employment Control Framework. Following this review some alleviation of the reduction in teaching posts is being allowed to those VECs who were losing six or more posts as a transitional measure.