Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
22 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has proposals for introducing funding for parents on VTOS, especially in view of the findings outlined in the CDI report, How are our Kids?; if she has read the report; if she will meet with the CDI to discuss the report; and if she will factor the findings of the report into any review of Government policy, particularly in view of budget 2005. [28259/04]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware from responses to recent questions that a key focus of education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk and to optimise access, participation and outcomes at every level of the system for disadvantaged groups.
As I have stated, the wide variety of measures in place in Tallaght and in other similar areas for tackling educational disadvantage and social exclusion reflects these concerns. These measures range from pre-school interventions, supports for tackling children's literacy problems, reduced pupil teacher ratios, increased capitation grants and measures to tackle early school leaving and strengthen ties between the school, the family and the community. In addition, there are interventions in support of youth and in providing "second chance education" for young people and adults.
The vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, to which the Deputy refers, is one aspect of my Department's provision in the area of second chance education. This programme provides second chance education for unemployed adults and other welfare benefit recipients. Other further and adult education programmes funded by my Department and delivered by the vocational education committees include Youthreach, Traveller training programmes, adult literacy and community education, part-time options for priority target groups under the Back to Education initiative, and post leaving certificate courses to provide skills for school leavers and re-entrants to the labour market.
In answer to the Deputy's query with specific reference to the VTOS programme, a participant on a VTOS programme receives free tuition and is paid a training allowance in lieu of an unemployment payment. VTOS students with other eligible social welfare entitlements, such as a disability allowance, continue to receive their payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
Grants are also paid by my Department to vocational education committees to assist towards the child care expenses of participants on VTOS, Youthreach and senior Traveller training programmes. The allocation of assistance to programme participants is a matter for individual VECs.
As I stated previously, I welcome the report of the Tallaght West childhood development initiative as a useful contribution to this complex area of policy and I have asked my officials to consider its wider policy implications in the context of finalising work on an overall review of educational disadvantage programmes at national level.
My priority will be to continue targeting resources at those areas and people most in need.
