I propose to take Questions Nos. 193, 194 and 205 together.
My Department provides funding to vocational education committees to assist towards the child care expenses of participants in VTOS, Youthreach and senior Traveller centre programmes.
The financial provision at national level in 2002 for child care assistance for participants on these programmes was €3,019,000 of which €77,827 was allocated to County Mayo VEC. The corresponding provision at national level for 2003 is €2,984,204 of which the allocation to County Mayo VEC is €64,151.
In 2002, the sum of the estimate by vocational education committees of their needs for child care funding exceeded the amount available. Additional funds became available towards the end of 2002 which allowed the Department to allocate supplementary grants in respect of child care assistance. Actual payout to vocational education committees for 2002 was €4,736,831 of which €101,837 was paid to County Mayo VEC. Some 27 vocational education committees, including County Mayo VEC, have requested special assistance by way of additional funding in 2003 for their child care services up to the end of the year. These vocational education committees were asked to indicate their minimal requirements to maintain the service and this information is currently being analysed in my Department.
Supplementary allocations will be made to vocational education committees, including County Mayo VEC, on foot of the information supplied and payments will issue in the very near future.