SIXTY FIVE per cent of applications for places on post-Leaving Cert (PLC) courses were not given a place this year despite the jobs crisis, according to new figures.
The figures, released by Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes, show there were almost 37,000 applications to PLC courses this year but, due to a Government cap, there are only 13,000 places on offer.
In all, 24,000 applicants – or 65 per cent – were unsuccessful due to the insufficient number of places on offer. Mr Hayes said the figures highlighted the short-sighted decision of the Government last year to put a cap on the number of places on PLC courses.
Ballyfermot College of Further Education had 5,500 applications for just 1,200 places. Other such colleges include Inchicore College (2,500 applications for 800 places); Rathmines College (1,100 applicants for 550 places) and Coláiste Dhulaigh, Coolock, where more than 3,000 applied for 1,000 places.
Demand for places also exceeds supply by a huge margin at other colleges including Cavan Institute; Limerick Senior College; Sligo College; Ballinode College of Commerce, Cork; Coláiste Stiofán Naofa, Cork; St John’s Central College, Cork; Galway Technical Institute; Drogheda College and Senior College Dún Laoghaire
Mr Hayes said he received this information “from those within the PLC sector who informed me that the huge increase in applications is largely as a result of mature students who have lost their jobs and wished to re-skill and retrain and students who have completed their Leaving Certificate and cannot get a job.
“With 430,000 people on the live register, retraining and reskilling is central, not only to economic recovery, but also to producing a talented and flexible workforce.”
Last year, the Government announced the creation of 51,000 additional training places but these primarily went to Fás. PLC courses are closely linked to the needs of industry but, last year, Fianna Fáil capped the number of places.
“Allowing VECs to provide more PLC courses makes sense,” Mr Hayes added. “The structures are already in place, the tutors have been hired, in many cases it would just be a matter of just extending current services.”