Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 8

Written Answers. - Westmeath Vocational Education Committee Course.

Paul McGrath

Question:

172 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education the content of the Eurotechnet course provided by Westmeath vocational education committee some time ago; if she has satisfied herself that the criteria and conditions under which this money was approved by the EU were fulfilled. [5527/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

No funding was approved by the European Commission for a Eurotecnet project in Westmeath.

The project in question was an element of a young workers innovation project operated by four vocational education committees, and was financed by the Department of Education. The project was co-ordinated by the Department through the curriculum development unit of City of Dublin vocational education committee. Grants totalling £29,000 were paid to County Westmeath in respect of the project.

An application was made to the European Commission for ESF support for the project, for a three year period starting in 1988, as an innovation project under Article 5 of the then ESF guidelines. Notification was received from the Commission in mid-1988 that the application was not approved for ESF aid. This was not uncommon at the time, given the volume of applications. The participating vocational education committees were notified by the Department that the project would not be funded beyond the end of 1988.

The Department in approving an allocation of funds for this project on 15 December 1987, attached a number of conditions in regard to the usage of the funds in question.

My Department has asked the new acting chief executive officer for a full report on the matters raised by the Deputy including the adherence to funding conditions imposed by the Department in relation to the project.