Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 5

Written Answers. - Education Initiatives.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

500 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the total number of students assisted under back-to-education initiatives in 2000; and the average cost distinguishing income maintenance costs from other costs. [23082/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

The data sought by the Deputy in relation to second chance and back-to-education initiatives involving provision under youthreach, senior traveller training centres, the vocational training opportunities scheme – VTOS – and post-leaving certificate courses – PLCs – is set out in tabular form as follows.

The latest year for which final statistical and financial data are available is 1998. The number of students assisted under these programmes in 1998 and the average costs per student are as follows:

Programme	Students(Annualised)	Costs (excluding Allowances-Grants)	Allowances-Grants	Total Cost	Average Cost
		£	£	£	£
Youthreach	1,717	11,833,858	2,810,094#	14,643,952	8,529
STTC##	548	3,393,772	1,062.991	4,456,763	8,133
VTOS	4,135	13,636,642	13,184,833**	26,821,475	6,486
PLC	17,184	46,429,233	5,500,000	51,929,233	3,022

Notes:**VTOS allowances are paid to unemployed participants in lieu of unemployment benefit/assistance. Other VTOS participants continue to receive the relevant payment from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.

#The Department of Education and Science took over responsibility for payment of Youthreach allowances from FÁS on 5 April 1998. The figure represents 38 weeks expenditure only, that is, from 5 April 1998 to 31 December 1998.

##The Department of Education and Science took over responsibility for funding of Senior Traveller Training Centres from FÁS on 5 April 1998. The figures represent 38 weeks expenditure only, that is, from 5 April 1998 to 31 December 1998.