Vol. 406 No. 4
44 Mr. Pattison asked the Minister for Education the guidelines, if any, which have been laid down for the expenditure of the £15,000 non-pay costs grant available to centres offering the vocational training opportunities scheme.
It has been indicated to vocational education committees that the £15,000 non-pay is being provided to cover all VTOS non-pay costs other than allowances for which there is separate provision.
45 Mr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for Education when the National General Forum of Local Groups will be convened to discuss the progress and problems of the vocational training opportunities scheme.
58 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education if local co-ordinating groups have been set up in all the vocational education committee areas which have vocational training opportunities scheme programmes; whether all the intended participants, including unemployed centres, have been involved; and where these have not been set up when they will be.
77 Mr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for Education whether any consideration has been given to involving the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed in the National General Forum which is to be established to monitor the vocational training opportunities scheme.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 58 and 77 together. Thirteen of the 24 vocational education committees who have vocational training opportunities scheme groups have set up local co-ordinating groups. Eight others are in course of setting them up and expect that they will be operating shortly. Vocational training opportunities scheme groups in the remaining three vocational education committees are not yet operational.
Where groups have been established all the intended participants have been involved including representatives from unemployed centres where there are such. Where there are no unemployed centres the unemployed are otherwise represented where it has been possible to arrange this. Course participants are represented on two groups and such representation is being arranged or under consideration in the case of a number of other groups. The convening of the general forum is under consideration at present and the question of involving the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed in the forum will be examined.
