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]
Written Answers - Education Services.
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.
Other support for students and groups outside the educational mainstream is also offered through: second chance education programmes such as Youthreach, the vocational training opportunity scheme and senior traveller training centres, which are now being supported by a new child care measure; the expansion of the adult literacy service through a doubling of funds this year; the secondment of an education co-ordinator to each of the area based partnerships and the close co-operation of the education sector with the work of the partnerships and with projects availing of EU Community initiative funding; extensive funding of youth services; and the forging of close links between the formal and informal sectors through the new eight to 15 early school leavers initiative.