asked the Minister for Education the number of young people who availed of the youth reach scheme in respect of the year 1988-89; and the estimated cost thereof.
Written Answers. - Youth Reach Scheme.
181.
Youthreach is a new joint initiative between the Departments of Education and Labour which commenced in February of this year. Currently the VECs, who are operating the scheme on behalf of the Department of Education, have over 200 trainees enrolled, and this number is projected to rise to 600 before the end of the year.
As this is a new scheme, it is not possible at this early stage to give an accurate estimate of the final cost of the scheme in 1989 but it is considered that the £2½ million which the Department has budgeted for the scheme this year will be sufficient to cover costs to be met by the Department. The cost of training allowances, estimated at £600,000, payable to the participants is being covered separately by FÁS.