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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Oct 1986

Vol. 369 No. 1

Written Answers. - Literacy Projects.

438.

asked the Minister for Education if sufficient funds are available to the Dublin VEC to fund the adult education board sponsored literacy projects; the funds which are available to the board for the remainder of the year; and the present position of literary projects which have applied to the board for funding.

In the National Plan Building on Reality 1985-1987 the Government committed up to £1 million for adult education by 1987, directed primarily towards the provision of courses to overcome illiteracy and towards the development of community education. The courses are intended to reflect the needs of the local community, in particular those in disadvantaged areas. The amount so allocated in 1985 was £150,000 and in 1986 £350,000.

Of these sums the City of Dublin VEC got £18,000 and £41,500 respectively. My information is that approximately £32,500 was expended between January and June 1986, and £9,000 has been committed to cover the costs of literacytutor organisers for the period September-December 1986, leaving the committee in no position to support further projects of the kind referred to by the Deputy. Following consultation with VEC's, and subject to the necessary funds being available, my Department has agreed to consider the position of committees which may have entered into such commitments in good faith and which they now find themselves unable to finance. An appeal along these lines, recently received from the City of Dublin VEC is being considered in my Department in respect, inter alia, of projects of the kind referred to by the Deputy.

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