PLCs still at risk despite U-turn on cuts

The saving of dozens of teachers’ jobs under threat from a budget cut will not be enough to save some important post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses, say VEC bosses.

The Department of Education has allowed 10 VECs in Cavan, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Louth, and Wicklow to keep 25 of the 200 whole-time equivalent jobs due to have been cut across the PLC sector, according to figures given to the Irish Examiner.

The increased PLC pupil- teacher ratio was announced by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn last December to save €4m this year and €12m a year from 2014, putting an estimated 400 non-permanent teachers’ jobs at risk.

The concessions were given by the department in the past week after cases put forward by 17 of the 33 city and county VECs, but there is no alleviation from cuts to Carlow, Co Kilkenny, Mayo, Monaghan, Sligo, or Waterford’s two VECs.

The department has said any alleviations must be funded from elsewhere, but it cannot yet say what cuts will be made to meet the €550,000 cost this year or €1.1m in 2014.

The Irish Vocational Education Association said the response is inadequate, as 175 whole-time posts are still being lost.

“Very sound cases were put to the department and they have responded to the worst-case scenarios. But it is still leaving VECs in a very difficult situation and courses will undoubtedly have to be cut,” said general secretary Michael Moriarty.

While VECs weigh up which courses might be possible to provide larger classes in, or which might no longer be offered, the employment rights of teachers with contracts are a key consideration.

City of Dublin VEC will keep 10 of the 48 posts it was due to lose and said it is working to minimise the impact of any cuts.

“We are not in a position to give details on posts, modules or courses [that will be affected] until this process has been completed, but we are making every effort to retain courses,” a spokesman said.

City of Cork VEC will still lose 19 of the 24 posts that were to be cut and said it will inevitably lead to some courses being lost across five schools and colleges.

“We’re making every effort to minimise the effect on students and teachers. But, welcome as the alleviation of five posts is, we still have to lose teachers,” said chief executive Ted Owens.

He said particular efforts are being made to safeguard second-level provision at schools in Mahon and Knocknaheeny where post- primary and PLC students are taught.

A department spokesperson said VECs have until September to plan how best to deal with the changes.