Michael Creed
Ceist:530 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science when he proposes to establish the national adult learning council and the local adult learning board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16584/01]
Written Answers. - Adult Education.
The programme of change and development set out in the White Paper on Adult Education, Learning for Life, which included proposals for the establishment of the National Adult Learning Council and Local Adult Learning Boards, will be implemented on a phased basis in the light of the resources made available in the context of the national development plan and the annual Estimates for Public Services provisions.
No provision has been made in the 2001 Estimates for the establishment of the national and local co-ordination structures recommended in the White Paper. However, other developments are already under way, such as the National Adult Literacy Strategy, improvements in the arrangements for self-funded part-time courses, a review of the administrative, technical and organisational structures for PLC courses, the development of an adult guidance service, and the implementation of an education equality initiative. The Back to Education Initiative is expected to come on stream in September/October. The National Qualifications Authority was established on a statutory footing at the end of February 2001, and the new awards councils for further and higher education have just been set up.
With regard to the National Adult Learning Council, resources for this will be examined in the context of the 2002 Estimates. The priority is to establish the national council to enable a range of development and advisory tasks to be carried out first, as a preparatory step before implementing the local structures.