Michael Bell
Ceist:10 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to expand the provision for second chance education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21610/97]
Written Answers. - Second Chance Education.
My Department operates a number of strategies to provide opportunities for second chance education. These include funding for adult literacy and community education. The recent OECD report on adult literacy in Ireland gave some cause for concern. My Department will consider the issues raised in this report, but, as an immediate response, I am increasing the provision for adult literacy by £2 million for 1998. I will continue to increase funding in this area as resources become available.
New initiatives have been agreed for 1998 and 1999 in respect of Youthreach, a programme targeted at 15-18 year olds who left school without any qualifications. These initiatives involve increasing the numbers by over 1,000 for Youthreach and traveller training programmes, the strengthening of counselling, guidance and psychological services and a redirection of FÁS participants to places on Youthreach. Under these measures, the provision for Youthreach will be increased by £22.69 million in 1998 and 1999 and will bring the number of places for participants from 4,525 places to a minimum of 6,250.
To attract to the Youthreach and vocational training opportunities schemes people who cannot join them at present because of childcare responsibilities, £2.7 million will be provided between now and 1999 for childcare services for these schemes. In addition, grants totalling £600,000 will be awarded to women's voluntary education groups between now and 1999.
In the area of student support, the position is that students who attended but did not successfully complete courses, and who return to courses at the same level following a break of at least five years, are eligible for funding under the student support schemes and the free fees initiative.
General issues relating to the expansion of the provision of second chance education will be explored in the forthcoming Green Paper on Adult Education.