Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 3

Written Answers. - Vocational Training Opportunities Schemes.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

309 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the problems created for the operation of VTO schemes by a decision of the Comptroller and Auditor General that parts of the budget allocated to vocational education committees for administration of the schemes cannot be used to provide supervisors, although this procedure had been sanctioned by his Department; the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that vocational education committees can provide adequate supervision for the schemes in view of the serious threat posed to schemes by the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3911/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The regulations governing the VTO do not preclude the use of the budget allocated to vocational education committees for the administration of VTO programmes to provide supervision. An amount equivalent to 15 per cent of teachers' pay costs, at a maximum, may be used for administrative expenses, including supervision.

Queries raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General, to which presumably the Deputy refers, related to the parameters within which administrative budgets should be allocated. My Department has responded to these queries and has also restated these parameters by circular to all vocational education committees.