Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:114 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will provide continued funding to Aontas, the National Association of Adult Education, for the NOW project which has been very successful to date.
Written Answers. - AONTAS Funding.
Exchequer funding is not available in my Department to support this project after it ceases to be eligible for financial assistance from the European Social Fund.
Funding allocated by the European Union Human Resources Initiative — NOW — provides for the piloting of innovative approaches to facilitate greater access for women to training, education and employment opportunities in which they are currently underrepresented. Accordingly, projects are assisted only for a predetermined period of time. The positive experiences gained in implementing projects should subsequently inform mainline training, education and employment policies.
The current round of funding under the NOW Initiative ends in December, 1994. The European Commission agreed its overall approach on the future of the Community Initiatives 1994-1999 on 16 February, 1994. Draft guidelines for the Employment and Development of Human Resources Community Initiative were also adopted. This initiative will include three strands; one of which will represent a continuation and deepening of the present NOW Initiative.