1700 Drogheda PLC Applicants turned away- Cllr. Callan

1700 Drogheda PLC Applicants turned away- Callan

Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Kevin Callan has said that the turning away of 1,700 applicants for post leaving certificate courses from the Institute of Further Education in Drogheda was an absolute disgrace and a serious problem that would have to be addressed immediately.

“A massive number of applicants in Drogheda were unsuccessful due to the insufficient number of places on offer. These are the most up-to-date figures and highlight the short-sighted decision of the Government that has seriously affected Drogheda and its people when a cap was put on places in the town.

Cllr. Callan has said that he had received this information from those within the PLC sector who informed him 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. This shows that people are trying to get back on their feet and to get onto local courses and are having their efforts hampered by central government.

“With over 8,000 people on the Live Register in Drogheda, re-training and re-skilling is central, not only to economic recovery in town , 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, Central Government put a cap on the numbers of PLC places.

“This makes no sense. Instead of just handing over more resources to FÁS, this cap on PLC places should be lifted immediately as in Drogheda 2,500 people applied for 800 places, we have 1,700 people who were unsuccessful, not due to any issue other than the governments total failure to help and lift the cap in Drogheda. “Allowing the VEC to provide more PLC courses makes sense. 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. This could be done quickly and effectively and would account for a small portion of the funds being directed to new training places.

“The Government should be doing all in its power to encourage learning and training wherever possible. Instead, the Government is harming Ireland's ability to implement an achievable economic recovery programme by refusing to lift the cap on the number of PLC courses. This cap should be removed immediately.”

Notice of Motion ofr December meeting of Drogheda Borough Council.

Cllr. Callan is bring a notice of motion at the December meeting of the Council to call on central government to lift the cap on PLC places in Drogheda.