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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Nov 1985

Vol. 361 No. 13

Written Answers. - Community Service Course.

86.

asked the Minister for Labour the criteria used and the method of selection applied to fund four mature students in the two year diploma in community service course in Maynooth College; the reason no student under 25 years was selected; and if there is any source of funding available to the remaining students on the course who are experiencing serious financial difficulties.

While it is not the policy of the Youth Employment Agency to fund third level courses, however, the agency decided to offer four partial scholarships bursaries to the two year diploma course in community service which commenced in Maynooth College in September 1985 because of the anticipated spin-off benefits of the course for disadvantaged youth. The bursaries were publicly advertised.

The criteria used for selection of candidates for the bursaries were:

—that they satisfied the entry requirements of Maynooth College;

—that they were nominated/sponsored by a local development group;

—that they had previous experience of working with or were associated with a local development group engaged in or interested in community enterprise or local economic development;

—that they did not have the independent resources necessary to pursue the course.

Final selection for the four bursaries/partial scholarships was made by an interview board representative of the Youth Employment Agency and Maynooth College. Selection was made on the basis of suitability and persons under 25 years of age were not precluded from selection. The Youth Employment Agency does not have the resources at its disposal to fund any other students on this course.

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