Vol. 573 No. 1
178 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has addressed the shortage of funds for child care provision for certain categories of return-to-education students in the VEC and adult education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24428/03]
Since 1998, my Department has provided funding to vocational education committees towards child care expenses of participants in VTOS, Youthreach and senior Traveller centre programmes. The cost of providing these supports has 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.
Following a review of the budgetary provision for 2003 across the range of further education programmes and supports, it has been found possible to re-designate certain elements of funding to enable supplementary grants to be allocated for child care. My Department is at present exploring, in consultation with the vocational education committees, how the extra funds might best be distributed.
