asked the Minister for Education if she will outline her plans for the expansion of adult education which has experienced severe cuts in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the Commission on Adult Education (1983).
Written Answers. - Adult Education.
233.
My Department's aims are:
(a)to co-operate with, encourage and support the work of agencies providing general adult education on a self-financing basis so that the needs in this area will be met.
(b)to encourage and support as a priority and to the extent that resources will allow the provision of second-chance education which is provided at 30 per cent of cost, and
(c)also as a priority, to maintain and increase if possible the provision for the Literacy and Community Education Scheme under which courses are provided free or at nominal charge.
Emphasis will be on maximising the benefit from the resources available and towards this end there will be an ongoing review in my Department of what is happening in adult education. Concerning the 1983 report of the Commission on Adult Education, a number of the recommendations have been implemented and the objectives behind others have been met in various ways. Further recommendations in the report will be pursued to the extent desirable and possible in present and future circumstances.