Phil Hogan
Question:59 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself that adult pupils who do not speak English as a first language are adequately catered for. [25237/99]
Written Answers. - Adult Education.
In the case of adults granted refugee status my Department bears the cost of language tuition in order to assist them to integrate into social and economic life. This tuition is normally provided on contract and the provision is now being co-ordinated by the refugee language support unit, established in March 1999 in Trinity College with funding support from my Department. The unit's functions include co-ordinating the provision of English language training for all refugees, commissioning the development of English language proficiency benchmarks and assessment procedures for refugees, establishing a database to record and monitor the progress of those availing of training courses, and developing support for teachers of refugees in the forms of training and learning materials. The unit's functions are fulfilled in co-operation with the Refugee Agency, the Department of Education and Science, FÁS and refugee groups themselves. In addition, refugees and immigrants are among the groups catered for as part of the adult literacy programme provided by the vocational education committees.
A range of private providers also organise courses in the teaching of English as a foreign language.