Limerick East): EU structural funding is provided to my Department in respect of vocational training of people with disabilities. The measure is part of the ReIntegration of the Socially Excluded sub-Programme of the Human Resources Operational Programme. The 1995 allocation to people with disabilities under this sub-programme is £40.493 million which comprises £17.993 million ESF funding and £22.500 million Exchequer funding.
The sub-programme — Measures to Improve the Quality of Training - under the Human Resources Operational Programme provides capital funding to support the development and improvement of vocational training centres for people with disabilities. The 1995 allocation in respect of this element of the programme is £4.2 million of which £2.8 million is European Regional Development Funds and £1.4 million Exchequer funding.
No funding has been provided by the private sector, although voluntary agencies providing vocational training to people with disabilities would devote a portion of fundraising income towards their training activities.
It is expected that there will be a full draw down of funds in 1995 under both elements of the programme. In addition, in order to ensure that there is no reduction in overall vocational training services to people with disabilities as a result of a reduction in ESF funding under the operational programme, my Department made available a further £5.171 million Exchequer funding in 1995 for vocational training of people with disabilities outside the operational programme.
