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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 May 1992

Vol. 420 No. 4

Written Answers. - European Social Fund.

Jim Higgins

Question:

124 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education the total amount of European Social Fund finances which his Department have received on a yearly basis since the introduction of the fund; and if he will outline (a) the individual projects and schemes which have been grant-aided and (b) the amounts involved.

The attached table sets out details of aid for ESF-aided vocational training programmes in the education sector. The figures from 1989 onwards represent the commitment of aid due in respect of each measure. In respect of programmes run jointly by the Department and other agencies the aid shown is that obtained by the education sector.

An outline of the measures which are aided is set out below.

1. Middle Level Technician Programme (MLT)

This programme consists of one and two year full-time certificate courses provided in the regional technical colleges and colleges of technology aimed at providing middle-level technician skills and higher level secretarial skills.

Vocational Preparation and Training

1. Vocational Preparation and Training (VPT)

The VPT programme is provided in secondary, community and comprehensive and vocational schools. It operates at three levels.

—VPT-1, a one year programme for young people who would otherwise leave school after the junior cycle.

—the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme which provides a two year leaving certificate course giving each participant a grounding in a specific technological area (construction, engineering and technical drawing), a modern language and work experience/simulation in the chosen employment area.

—VPT-2, a one year vocational training programme aimed at young people who have completed senior cycle and those who have completed a VPT-1 course.

27,224 trainees are availing of this programme at present.

Middle Level Re-training Programme (MLRT)

This programme consists of short part time courses ranging from 1 to 5 years provided in the regional technical colleges and colleges of technology aimed at persons employed in small and medium sized enterprises who need to be re-trained as a result of the effect of new technology on their jobs. Over 6,000 trainees annually avail of the programme.
FÁS Craft Apprentices Programme
This programme, run jointly with FÁS, the industrial training authority, is concerned with the off-the-job theoretical training of apprentices in the regional technical colleges and colleges of technology.
Youthreach
The Youthreach programme is a joint Department of Education/Labour initiative introduced in 1989 and provided in vocational education committee and FÁS training centres. The programme is targeted at young people, aged 15-18 years of age, who are at least six months in the labour market (i.e. 6 months out of school) who have left school without any formal qualifications and vocational training. The aim of Youthreach is to provide participants with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to successfully make the transition to work and adult life.
1,600 first year places are provided by the vocational education committees at present.
Community Training Workshops (CTWs)
The Community Training Workshops programme is run jointly with FÁS for the training of young people in the 16-25 year age group who are at risk due to poor educational attainment, literacy/ numeracy difficulties and low self-esteem.
Travellers Training Workshops (TTWs)
This is a programme run jointly with FÁS to help travellers develop to their full potential, to break the cycle of illiteracy and social deprivation in which they are trapped and to enable them to become self-reliant and self-supporting members or society.
Joint with CERT
This programme is operated with CERT (Council for the Education, Recruitment and Training of staff for the hotel and catering industry) and provides full-time and block release courses at craft and managerial level for staff in the catering and hotel industry.
Pilot Programmes
This heading covers a small number of pilot programmes operated to promote the use of new technology in vocational training in second level schools and to encourage transnational co-operation between third level colleges in the fields of community development and environmental issues. Some staff development projects are also included.
Higher Technical and Business Skills Programme (HTBS)
ESF support for this programme was first given i"middle"ber 1989. It provides 3 yearsab-initio and 1 year “add-on” diploma courses in the regional technical colleg"middle"olleges of technology aimed at those who require higher technical or business skills. 6,763 trainees are availing of the programme at present.
Advanced Technical Skills Programme (ATS)
ESF support was received for this programme for the first time in September '89. It provides one year postgraduate courses which have a specific vocational orientation within the universities in areas which contribute to the sectoral development objectives outlined in the National Development Plan.
Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme (VTOS)
This programme, administered by the vocational education committees, provides second chance education for adults who have been unemployed for at least a year.
There are 1,060 places provided on the programme at present.

Middle Level Technician

Vocational Preparation & Training

Middle Level Retraining

Joint with FÁS

Joint with Cert

Pilot Programmes

Higher Technical & Business Skills

Advanced Technical Skills

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme

Total Receipts

1975

632,429

58,333

10,689

179,943

881,394

1976

569,257

37,287

22,165

43,273

199,289

871,271

1977

756,135

248,264

33,606

223,748

207,792

1,469,546

1978

653,862

286,084

19,647

399,292

220,475

1,579,360

1979

1,365,000

718,709

10,418

667,503

131,903

2,893,533

1980

2,253,460

777,760

27,305

777,639

293,700

4,129,864

1981

3,472,093

1,314,679

26,030

807,767

576,895

6,197,464

1982

4,911,500

1,504,612

54,010

1,155,248

717,008

8,342,378

1983

5,970,471

2,031,606

56,767

1,756,893

872,930

10,688,667

1984

14,040,414

7,357,204

262,679

2,231,342

1,429,976

55,949

25,377,664

1985

18,434,609

14,499,295

352,854

2,397,089

1,279,341

749,115

37,712,303

1986

19,276,505

18,114,605

509,941

2,449,445

1,486,257

44,209

41,880,962

1987

21,462,110

20,857,950

471,902

2,123,260

2,122,511

835,210

47,872,943

1988

22,928,032

20,085,154

968,087

2.315,563

2,363,308

709,270

49,369,414

Under new Operational Programme funding structure 1989-1993 — Aid Committed in £million

1989

27.55

21.11

1.65

4.19

2.40

0.65

4.43

1.71

63.68

1990

35.26

28.94

2.57

11.64

3.07

0.70

16.88

6.62

1.11

106.78

1991

31.48

32.93

2.11

8.35

3.49

1.10

18.20

6.62

3.10

107.38

1992

37.35

37.62

2.26

13.99

4.02

1.14

17.29

7.06

5.32

126.05

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