asked the Minister for Education if she will extend the adult literacy and community scheme to all parts of County Wexford.
31.
Written Answers. - Adult Literacy and Community Scheme.
18.
asked the Minister for Education if she will extend the adult literacy and community scheme to all parts of County Kildare.
49.
asked the Minister for Education whether she is satisfied that the growth of funds available to assist adult literacy in Dublin is adequate to meet the rising demands; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
56.
asked the Minister for Education if she will extend the adult literacy and community scheme to all parts of Counties Cavan and Monaghan.
63.
asked the Minister for Education if she will extend the adult literacy and community scheme to all parts of County Roscommon.
113.
asked the Minister for Education the method of selection of the geographic areas of the country in which the adult literacy and community scheme is operating; the areas which are not covered by this scheme at present; the content and aims of the scheme; its cost; and if she will expand the scheme throughout the country.
114.
asked the Minister for Education if she will extend the adult literacy and community scheme to all parts of Counties Laois and Offaly.
119.
asked the Minister for Education if she will extend the adult literacy and community scheme to County Meath.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 31, 49, 56, 63, 113, 114 and 119 together.
The adult literacy and community education scheme is a countrywide scheme and operates in the counties concerned in these questions. The scheme is operated by the VECs in their areas and funding is provided to each VEC by my Department.
The aim of the scheme is to provide literacy and community education free of charge or at nominal cost for those in poor circumstances. A total of £500,000 was provided by my Department for this scheme in 1989 which was 25 per cent more than the previous year. The effectiveness of this scheme is under consideration in my Department.
As indicated by me in reply to a parliamentary question on Tuesday last, 14 November, 1989, the provision under the adult literacy and community education scheme was increased by 25 per cent to £500,000 in 1989. As also indicated by me in that reply the effectiveness of this scheme is at present under consideration by my Department. The response necessary to meet the needs of adult literacy in the Dublin area will be part of that consideration.
In addition a further £2.4 million approximately is being spent generally on adult education through the VEC sector. This figure does not include the cost of adult education organisers and others involved in administering adult education in the VEC sector. Other Government Departments are also involved in providing adult education, e.g. Departments of Labour, Agriculture, Health and Justice.