60 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Education if he has been seeking ESF grant-aid to be extended to post leaving certificate courses; and if he has any success in this.

There are of the order of 14,700 trainees availing of vocational preparation and training (VPT) programmes at post leaving certificate level. These programmes are supported from the European Social Fund at an intervention rate of 65 per cent of approved programme costs.