Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 6

Written Answers. - Education Programme.

Tony Gregory

Question:

398 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to continue the funding, after the current funding runs out in March 2000, of the very successful pathways through education programme in Brunswick Street, Warronmount and Ringsend VEC schools. [23502/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin):

The Pathways Through Education Programme referred to by the Deputy is one of a large number of projects supported under the EU EMPLOYMENT Community Initiative which provides financial support for a range of innovatory projects under four strands as follows: HORIZON, for people with disabilities, INTEGRA, for disadvantaged and socially excluded, NOW, new opportunities for women and YOUTHSTART aimed at young people up to 20 who are at risk of social exclusion.

Overall, at national level, funding for these initiatives is managed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

In this case the project promoters have recently circulated general background information and documentation to officials in a number of Departments with a view to meeting Departmental representatives for discussions in the near future. The material provided by the project does not advance any specific proposals or contain a request for funds.

The aims of the EMPLOYMENT initiative are to promote social solidarity and equal opportunities, to contribute to the development of human resources and to improve access to the labour market. Overall some 132 projects were supported in 1995-1997, and a further 126 are now under way with a view to completion in early 2000. The transfer of the learning from these innovative projects to mainstream systems is also envisaged under the initiative. For example, this may involve mainstreaming good practice or policy lessons or lead to a continuation of the activities of the project.

In my Department, mainstreaming of the learning from the projects is generally pursued through direct contact with some project providers, links between my Department and the national support structures established for the initiative strands, and in the Mainstreaming Forum established by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.