Written Answers - Adult Education.
Mary Wallace
Ceist:
331
Ms M. Wallace
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the 26 projects currently funded under the adult education guidance initiative on a county by county basis; the number of applications received from County Meath for funding; the criteria for obtaining funding, in particular, if it is still open to apply for such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5344/03]
Under the adult educational guidance initiative, there are 25 pilot projects, located throughout the country, with the aim of providing a quality educational guidance service for adults. All projects in the initiative were selected by an inter-agency selection committee on foot of applications invited by public advertisement.
The criteria for selection were that projects should demonstrate clear aims and objectives, innovation, a local partnership approach, and the ability and commitment to deliver a quality guidance service to all the participants in the target group. The selection team chose the projects which best met these critera, but there were a range of applications which, although eligible, had to be refused due to funding constraints.
The 25 projects were inaugurated in three annual phases in 2000, 2001, and 2002. In 2003, the increase in resources is being concentrated on the development of a web base publicly accessible integrated database of adult learning options. Accordingly, applications for funding of further local guidance projects cannot be entertained at present. However, under the national development plan some €44.5 million has been committed for adult guidance and further education support with the aim of having a comprehensive service in place by 2006. It is envisaged that there will be further expansion in the number of projects as resources permit.
Two applications have been received from County Meath since the initiative began. The pilot projects currently in operation are as follows:
County Carlow Adult Educational Guidance and Counselling Service, County Carlow VEC; Vocational School, Kilkenny Road, County Carlow; Clare Adult Learners' Guidance Service, Adult and Community Education Centre; Clonroad Business Park, Clonroad, Ennis, County Clare; Project for Adult Guidance in Education, Unit 52, Penrose Wharf, Cork; Growing Guidance in the Community, 25 Celtic Apartments, Pearse Road, Letterkenny, County Donegal; Adult Education Guidance Service Dublin City Southwest, City of Dublin VEC; Town Hall, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4; Adult Education Guidance Service, 3 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1; Adult Educational Guidance Outreach Project, 1B Ballinteer Road, Dundrum, Dublin 16; Tallaght Adult Guidance Service, Tallaght Adult Education Centre, County Dublin; VEC, Main Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24; West County Dublin Adult Education Guidance Service, LIFE Centre, Esker Hill, Lucan, County Dublin; Discover Guidance at Dun Laoghaire Adult Educational Guidance Service, the Basement, 6 Clarinda Park North, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin; Galway City Adult Learner Guidance Service, 122 Bohermore, Galway City; Kerry Adult Guidance Service, County Kerry VEC, Maine St., Tralee, County Kerry; Integrated Counselling Service for Adults, Georges Street, Newbridge, County Kildare; County Kilkenny Adult Guidance Service, Adult Education Office, Vocational School, Ormonde Road, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny; Adult Educational Guidance and Information Service, 2 Meehan Court, Portlaoise, County Laois; Adult Guidance in Limerick: A Bridge to Lifelong Learning, City of Limerick VEC, Presentation Court, Sexton Street, Limerick City; County Longford Adult Education Guidance Service, 6 Keon's Terrace, Longford, County Longford; County Mayo Adult Learner Guidance Service, County Mayo VEC, Newtown, Castlebar, County Mayo; Monaghan Adult Learners' Guidance Service, Monaghan VEC, Market Street, Monaghan, County Monaghan; Adult Education Service, Woodchester House, O'Connor Square, Tullamore, County Offaly; Roscommon Adult Education Guidance Service, Adult Education Centre, Celtic Avenue, Lanesboro Street, Roscommon, County Roscommon; Sligo Adult Guidance in Education, Sligo VEC, Quay Street, Sligo, County Sligo; Regional Educational Guidance Service for Adults, Waterford Institute of Technology, College Street Campus, Waterford City; Westmeath Adult Educational Guidance Service, Mullingar Adult Education and Employment Centre, Austin Friars Street, Mullingar, County Westmeath; County Wicklow Adult Guidance Service, Wicklow Adult Learning Centre, ACC House, Abbey Street, Wicklow Town.
