Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
375 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress that has been made on a recommendation in the report of the task force on autism of October 2001 (details supplied); if such a recommendation has been carried out; the extent to which; if not completed, when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32238/04]
View answer376 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress that has been made on a recommendation in the report of the task force on autism of October 2001 (details supplied); if such a recommendation has been carried out; the extent to which; if not completed, when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32239/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 376 together.
It is the policy of the Department of Education and Science to ensure that available educational resources are targeted at the most disadvantaged people across all levels of the system. One of the key objectives is to ensure that all young people complete first and second level with relevant qualifications to support their full participation in a cohesive and competitive society. Further and adult education plays a central role in promoting people's life chances.
In Further Education, FE, the principal objectives of the measures and programmes funded by the Department are to meet the needs of young early school-leavers, to provide second chance education for adults and to provide vocational education and training opportunities for labour market entrants and re-entrants. It is the Department's policy to seek to encourage and facilitate the participation of people with disabilities on programmes offered in sector. Generally, issues of access for individuals to FE programmes are addressed at local level with assistance from the adult education guidance service.
The programmes funded in the further and adult education area are as follows: vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, providing second chance education and training for unemployed adults in receipt of social welfare payments in one and two-year programmes; post leaving certificate courses, PLC, offering full-time one and two-year programmes of integrated education, training and work experience provided in schools and colleges outside the third level sector; and Youthreach, an interdepartmental initiative between the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, for unemployed young people who left school early without qualifications or with poor qualifications.
Senior Traveller training centres offer a two-year Youthreach type programme to Travellers with special consideration of their cultural needs. In both these programmes a range of subject modules, both vocational and academic, at different levels are provided. These are accredited by FETAC or under the junior certificate and leaving certificate applied programmes. The flexibility of the Youthreach programme allows students at different functioning levels to be accommodated.
With effect from 2005 a new provision is being made for trainees with special educational needs, including autism, in Youthreach and senior Traveller training centres. The new provision will enhance the existing guidance and counselling service which has operated since 1998 and will provide for extra tutor resources, educational assessments and education plans and adaptive technology, depending on the needs of the young people involved.
In the area of adult literacy-community education, funding is allocated to VECs for such services. Additional funds provided in recent years are used to expand the scale and scope of provision, improve outreach and referral links and promote flexibility and quality. In addition to expanding the general adult literacy services, specially-targeted programmes have been introduced for people with special literacy requirements, in such areas as family learning, workplace learning, provision for special needs, and catering for those for whom English is not the mother tongue.
In 2002, the back to education initiative, BTEI, offering 6,000 flexible part-time further education places so that people can combine their learning with family, work and other responsibilities, was introduced. The initiative is aimed at providing flexible learning opportunities for those in employment, unemployed or not in the labour market.
A number of education equality initiatives to address gaps in provision of learning and training for educationally disadvantaged people have been established. Eighteen projects nationwide were funded under phase I, 2000-03. Phase II of the EEI commenced January 2004 and will run until December 2006. Other supports designed to assist students in selected further education programmes include adult guidance, counselling and childcare grants. Since 1999, 24 pilot adult guidance projects have been established throughout the country to provide guidance and information to learners in VTOS, literacy schemes and adult and community education. In 2005 additional funding will be allocated for the roll-out of phase IV of the adult education guidance initiative. This extra provision will allow the adult guidance service to be extended into approximately ten areas currently without a service. More projects will be established as resources permit with a view to having a nationwide service.
Since 1998, funding in the form of grants has been made available to vocational education committees, VECs, towards the cost of childcare support for participants in the vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, Youthreach and senior Traveller training centre programmes. In the VEC Youthreach and Traveller programmes, an annual budget is provided for guidance, counselling and psychological services. Centres use this budget to prioritise from a spectrum of needs ranging from initial orientation and guidance and vocational information to psychological services. The vast majority of centres prioritise counselling and psychological services as the key gaps in their areas, with the other aspects of the service being delivered by staff within the centre, by mentors in the Youth service or by the FÁS advocate service.
380 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress that has been made on a recommendation in the report of the task force on autism of October 2001 (details supplied); if such a recommendation has been carried out; the extent to which; if not completed, when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32244/04]
View answerMy Department provides funding to schools for the purchase of specialised equipment such as computers to assist children with special educational needs, including children with autism, with their education where such equipment is recommended by relevant professionals. Heretofore, schools could apply to the special education section of my Department for this support, providing supporting documentation, such as reports of psychological and other relevant professional assessments, as appropriate.
Revised arrangements are being introduced in the context of the assumption of operational status by the national council for special education and schools will be notified of these arrangements in the near future.
