Brian O'Shea
Question:307 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications received from groups in the Waterford constituency for funding under the fund for women's education projects. [3906/98]
Written Answers. - Women's Education Projects.
Five applications were received from groups in the Waterford constituency for funding under the fund for women's education projects.
Brian O'Shea
Question:308 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the alteration, if any, he has made to the recommendations submitted by the expert group which scrutinised the applications for funding under the fund for women's education projects; if so, the nature of the alterations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3907/98]
The sum of £600,000 has been allocated by my Department, with the support of the European Social Fund, to voluntary women's groups to enable women to plan and pursue lifelong education opportunities and to acquire access to mainstream programmes.
Criteria for the distribution of these funds were drawn up by an expert group of representatives of a number of organisations that are active in the area of women's education.
Applications for assistance from interested women's education groups were invited by public advertisement. Well over 100 applications were received. The applications were scrutinised, and recommendations submitted to me by the expert group.
I accepted the recommendation of the expert group that grants be given in respect of 12 nominated projects. I also accepted the recommended level of grants. In addition, I decided to grant aid one other applicant on the basis of the merits of the project and the relatively small amount of money involved.