Question:
54 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide financial and human resource support to the work of the education sub-committee of a group (details supplied). [7136/00]
Written Answers. - Committee Supports.
The current range of supports to meet the educational needs of this community includes funding for schools including home-school community liaison co-ordinators, the local youthreach centre, adult literacy being channelled through the City of Dublin VEC, adult and community education and youth services. My Department does not have a specific budget to support the work of the education sub-committee of the group in question.
With regard to human resources, as the Deputy is aware, education and training sub committees were established in each of the 38 area based partnerships and each have been assigned a representative of my Department's inspectorate/educational psychological service to support the planning and development of measures to tackle educational disadvantage in their areas. In this instance the local partnership is the canal communities and the task group was notified some time ago of the name of my representative. In addition each partnership has the services of an education co-ordinator funded by my Department and it is also open to the group to seek the advice of the co-ordinator with a view to inclusion of proposals within the overall partnership plan currently being developed.
Finally, I should also point out that as this group works within the Dublin 8 integrated services process area my Department's co-ordinator for Dublin 8 is available to give advice to the group. I have made arrangements for her to contact the group in this regard.