Vol. 515 No. 4
161 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that trainees attending a community training workshop in Balloonagh, Tralee, County Kerry, are been denied their courses in numeracy, literacy and life and social skills as part of the programme. [6281/00]
At national level, the management and funding of the network of community training workshops is a matter for FÁS. Responsibility for the day-to-day operation of individual workshops is a matter for the director and board of management of the particular centre.
In respect of the 1999-2000 period, under arrangements for co-operation with other institutions, my Department approved an allocation of 960 hours for the provision of teaching services in the Tralee Community Training Workshop. Returns in respect of usage of hours in the workshop indicates that approximately 758 hours were used there in 1998-1999.
The utilisation of hours approved by my Department under arrangements for co-operation with other institutions as between literacy/numeracy tuition, personal development, general and vocational education is a matter for determination at centre level, having regard to needs. In Tralee Community Training Workshop, it is understood that literacy and numeracy tuition is delivered under the title of communications skills and is also integrated into other modules such as life and social skills, personal development, health and hygiene-childcare, computer skills, catering, construction and craftwork. This approach has been approved by the centre's board of management and is being monitored to assess its effectiveness.
