Richard Bruton
Ceist:354 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to provide funding and back up to groups offering support to students outside the educational mainstream. [25680/98]
Vol. 497 No. 5
354 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to provide funding and back up to groups offering support to students outside the educational mainstream. [25680/98]
The Green Paper on adult education, which was published last week, provides the consultative backdrop to the publication of a White Paper on adult education. The paper sets out a basis for a national policy on adult education and proposes a series of priority actions in the field. It proposes mechanisms for the co-ordination and future development of the sector, as a key component within an inclusive education system which promotes access, participation and benefit for all on a lifelong basis. In that context, particular emphasis is placed on mainstreaming the learning from provision in the community education sector.
In addition, the womens' education initiative was established to assist projects which address gaps in provision for educationally disadvantaged women. £0.6 million is being provided for 13 projects in 1998 and 1999 under the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development 1994-9. The objective is to support the development of models of good practice which will be capable of wider applications and which will impact on future policy.