Vol. 571 No. 3
136 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make contact with County Dublin VEC and offer assistance to those families in Tallaght, Dublin 24, and throughout Dublin south west who are experiencing difficulties relating to his Department's grants for childcare for students on the VTOS, youthreach and senior travellers centres programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21608/03]
Since 1998 my Department has provided funding to vocational education committees to assist towards the childcare expenses of participants in VTOS, Youthreach and Senior Traveller Centre programmes. The cost of providing these supports had been rising steadily since 1998 and in the current year, the sum of the estimate by vocational education committees of their needs exceeds the amount of money available.
I appreciate that the shortage of funds for child care supports has given rise to difficulties for a number of vocational education committees and may impact on the options available to adult learners in relation to participation in second-chance education programmes. At present, I am examining the possibility of providing some special assistance to vocational education committees that are particularly badly affected. The situation in County Dublin VEC will be reviewed in this context.
