Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012
288. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of the Adult Refugee Programme's annual budget spent on language teachers' salaries for the direct delivery of the service. [49938/12]
View answer289. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of the Adult Refugee Programme's annual budget spent on administration costs by the lead vocational education committee, County Dublin [49939/12]
View answer290. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the reason that the Adult Refugee Programme in Ringsend College and Ballsbridge College, Dublin, is being earmarked for closure while other courses and agencies, for example, ALCES, BTEI, DALC continue to be funded. [49940/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 288 to 290, inclusive, together.
My Department provides an annual grant to Co Dublin VEC to coordinate the Adult Refugee Programme. In 2011, 59% and 6.7 % of the annual budget was spent on tutors' salaries and national coordination costs respectively.
It was decided to cease the Adult Refugee Programme as there are alternative education services available for refugees within existing Further Education programmes such as the Adult Literacy and Community Education Scheme (ALCES) and the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) Programme. It is also Further Education policy to seek to integrate provision. The Programme will cease in all centres where it operates including those referred to by the Deputy.
