Page 79 of the programme for Government reads, "we must ensure that every young person leaving school can move seamlessly to a job, training or education, no-one [should have to] graduate onto welfare". Yesterday, I received a letter from a concerned parent in south Leitrim whose child attends school there and whose educational psychologist has recommended that the child should do a leaving certificate applied course. The parent on going to the school the child attends and has attended for the past number of years was told that the school does not provide this course. The parent contacted another post-primary school, a big school I might add, 14 miles away only to be told the same thing.

I have checked the records from last year, when there were 48 courses in Sligo, 79 in Galway, 73 in Mayo and 136 in Donegal but none in Leitrim. As a former educationalist, the Taoiseach should appreciate that this is wrong and needs to be addressed immediately.

It is certainly an issue of considerable personal concern. I do not understand why there is not a post-leaving certificate course in operation in Leitrim. The education and training board, ETB, would have reflected on the provision of courses. I will have the Minister for Education and Skills-----

I am referring to leaving certificate applied courses.

In Sligo?

In Leitrim.

Yet the person in question lives in Leitrim.

He lives in Leitrim.

Is there no leaving certificate applied course at all in Leitrim?

There was none last year.

It is a matter for the ETB. We need to find out the reason for this. The student should be as entitled as anybody else to have access to a course one can qualify through, particularly when it is recommended by his psychologist.