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.