asked the Minister for Education the number of students involved in literacy schemes in the Dublin area in each of the years 1985, 1986 and 1987; and the expected number in 1988.
Written Answers. - Literacy Schemes.
135.
The number of students involved in the main literacy schemes in the Dublin area for the years 1985, 1986 and 1987 was as follows: 1985, 802; 1986, 936; 1987, 871.
Given the voluntary nature of the courses the numbers of students participating in such schemes fluctuate but a similar level of participation is expected for 1988 as for 1987.
136.
asked the Minister for Education the amount of money allocated by educational authorities to adult literacy in the Dublin area in each of the years 1985, 1986, and 1987; and the expected allocation for 1988.
Money is allocated for adult literacy in the following manner (a) a direct allocation is made by the Vocational Education Committee for the provision of adult literacy courses (b) the City of Dublin VEC allocates money to the Dublin Institute for Adult Education for the provision of adult literacy courses and (c) the Department of Education provides grants-in-aid to voluntary organisations involved in adult literacy.
Under the last heading the Department provided grants-in-aid to the Dublin Institute for Adult Education and the National Adult Literacy Agency. As the latter is a national organisation it is not possible to provide figures for expenditure on the Dublin area alone.
The amount of money allocated under the headings given was as follows: 1985, £133,800; 1986, £186,286; 1987, £162,332. The above includes the total grant to NALA.
Apart from an increase of £1,000 for one of the voluntary agencies concerned, the allocations from the Department to them for 1988 will be as in 1987. The allocations to the VECs concerned for literacy and community education is also expected to be the same as for 1987.
For the purposes of this question the Dublin area was taken as the city and its suburbs.
137.
asked the Minister for Education the date on which the allocation for adult literacy was made in 1987; the expected date that the allocation will be made in 1988; and if she will make a statement on the difficulties created for voluntarily-run literacy schemes in delayed allocation of funds for their programmes.
The Vocational Education Committee were informed in April 1987 of their financial allocations for 1987 for literacy and community education; and were paid the amounts in May of that year.
The voluntary agencies involved in literacy education were also told in April 1987 of their financial allocations for that year. They were paid an advance instalment in February and the balance in three further instalments during the year.
It is hoped to inform in the coming weeks all the bodies concerned of the allocations for 1988, and payments will be made in due course thereafter.