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Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Questions (288)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

288. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if Rehab has been provided with any funding during each of the past seven years; the level of funding provided during each of these years; the purposes for which the funding was allocated; if any audits of use of this money were carried out; the results of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12919/14]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy is included in the following table.

Name of Education & Skills Body/Agency providing funding

Name of recipient body (REHAB or subsidiary)

Funding 2007

Funding 2008

Funding 2009

Funding 2010

Funding 2011

Funding 2012

Funding 2013

Purposes for which funding was allocated

Details regarding audits

SOLAS (Formerly FAS)

National Learning Network

€27,426,000

€27,180,000

€27,569,000

€25,466,000

€27,558,000

€27,916,000

€27,025,000

Primarily payments made by SOLAS (formerly FAS) to the National Learning Networks on a capitation basis in respect of training provided by the Networks under the Specialist Training Providers programme.  Some payments also made under the 'Momentum' and 'Local Training Initiative' programmes.

Audits of individual National Learning Network (NLN) sites typically completed as part of larger audits.  In the period under review, fifteen such audits were reported upon.

Education and Training Boards (ETBs). (Formerly Vocational Education Committees).  

Various groups under REHAB umbrella (including REHAB, National Learning Network, RehabCare).

€658,736

€1,098,323

€1,037,490

€1,361,396

€1,449,075

€1,403,045

€1,016,394

Payments mainly in respect of delivery of literacy, numeracy and community education tuition;  provision of Notetakers, Personal Assistants, Sign Language Interpreters, Disability Officers.

Accounts of VECs subject to audit by C&AG. Payment invoices required to be authorised as being appropriate for payment before payments made.

Department of Education and Skills

National Learning Network

€951,073

€1,000,494

€927,578

€590,909

€794,734

€701,287

€639,764

Grant-aid funding is allocated to the National Learning Network (NLN) to provide for the employment of teachers/tutors delivering literacy and numeracy tuition to approximately 1,200 adults with disabilities attending NLN Centres around the country. There are 32 such centres nationwide. 

Payment issued to the NLN upon receipt of confirmation of tuition undertaken in the centres by NLN head office, up to the maximum level of tuition sanctioned. Level of tuition claimed for is cross-referenced against that sanctioned. Checks are undertaken to ensure tutors providing tuition in NLN Centres are registered with the Teaching Council of Ireland.

Department of Education and Skills (following transfer of certain administrative and ministerial functions from Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in May 2010)

TBG Learning in conjunction with the National Learning Network

€0

€0

€0

€4,927,037

€2,610,787

€0

€0

Following a procurement process, TBG Learning in conjunction with NLN were awarded a contract under the Labour Market Activation Fund 2010 to deliver the JobFit programme. The programme initially targeted to assist a total of 1,878 participants, but 2,215 were ultimately assisted. It was envisaged that 782 participants would achieve a FETAC or industry recognised qualification.  A total of 1,012 individuals achieved one or more qualifications under the programme. 217 individuals progressed to further/higher education (Phase 1), while a total of 488 individuals obtained employment, surpassing the initial target by 34%.

Continuous monitoring by DES officials throughout the programme involving: monthly reporting by TBG Learning on numbers being trained or obtaining employment; meetings with TBG officials;  on-site monitoring checks by DES officials in various TBG centres to ensure that TBG Learning were adhering to the terms of original contract. Monitoring indicated that: centres were well managed; comprehensive documentation presented during visits and records examined found to be satisfactory; appropriate attendance monitoring and management system in place.  No major issues of concern arising from audits. Original tender targets exceeded.

Department of Education and Skills

Rehab Enterprises Ltd

€0

€0

€0

€0

€114

€1,162

€3,045

The Department used the services of Rehab for electronic recycling, data destruction and recycling of office materials and equipment in the years shown.   

Invoices subject to prior authorisation.

TOTAL

€29,035,809

€29,278,817

€29,534,068

€32,345,342

€32,412,710

€30,021,494

€28,684,203

 

Note 1 - In addition to the above payments, the Department's Planning and Building Unit also made payments to Red Hill School in Limerick, whose patron is the REHAB group, for the purchase of temporary accommodation, set-up and once-off grants, special needs equipment grants, minor works grants. Funding for these purposes of €2,103,282 was provided from 2007 to date. The school would also have been entitled to a range of grant payments which are payable to all schools.

Note 2 - In addition to the above payments a number of education and training entities - e.g. schools, Institutes of Technology, Universities etc - would have recycling arrangements with various bodies under the REHAB umbrella, such as REHAB Glassco, REHAB Recycling Partnership. REHAB Recycle. Full details of these payments are not, however, available.

Note 3 - Details above of funding provided by the Department to the National Learning Network do not include grant funding of €91,967 provided in respect of escort provision for pupils under the School Transport scheme.

Note 4 - Given the range of bodies in the REHAB group and the large number of entities and payment systems across the education sector, it is possible that some payments were made to the REHAB group from these entities that are not listed above.

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