Vol. 536 No. 5
379 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science when he intends to implement the recommendation to reduce the pupil teacher ratio for participants with less than upper second level education; if such a reduced ratio will also apply to vocational training opportunities scheme programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14922/01]
The back to education initiative announced in the Government's White Paper on Adult Education, Learning for Life, provides for a merging and continuation of existing levels of provision under Youthreach, Traveller, vocational training opportunity scheme – VTOS – and post-leaving certificate courses, allied with a significant expansion of part-time options.
To address needs in this area, the back to education initiative will provide for an improvement in the student teacher ratio to 10:1 for all participants accessing the programme with less than upper second-level education. Discussions are currently under way to finalise a the funding framework and implementation arrangements for the expansion of part-time options, and the 10:1 ratio is being examined in that context. I hope to implement the first round of the new initiative later this year with the funds being provided under the Government's national development plan.
