Trevor Sargent
Question:128 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to establish a capital programme for outdoor education centres. [23501/01]
Written Answers. - Departmental Funding.
Some capital investment was made in a number of outdoor education centres, OECs, administered by vocational education committees under the national lottery funded sport capital programme, which was administered by my Department until 1997. Following a Government decision in 1997 responsibility for that programme devolved to the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation. The only funding available to my Department that could have been applied to OECs was that provided for second level schools in the second level and further education Vote.
Consequently, since 1997 my Department has had a very limited capacity to provide funding for the nine OECs recognised for funding purposes. The Deputy will appreciate that the funding available to my Department within the second level and further education Vote must be applied, in the first instance, to core school activities.