Vol. 574 No. 3
166 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding being given to Donegal VEC to assist music students at postprimary level to learn instruments outside their own school as per his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 108 of 23 October 2003; and if he will make a statement on the equality of approach being taken at a national level to areas of geographical distance from established schools of music such as Cork and Dublin. [27013/03]
In addition to supporting in-school music education programmes, my Department supports the delivery of music programmes outside of school through allocations to vocational educational committees under the co-operation with other institutions heading. In the current school year, allocations in respect of music programmes under the co-operation heading amounted to 92.76 whole-time equivalent teacher posts. However, I understand that no application for such support has been received by my Department from County Donegal VEC.
As I stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 108 of 23 October 2003, my Department pays the salaries of the teachers in the case of school-based tuition and there is normally no tuition cost to students in these circumstances. Where students take music lessons outside their school in a college or school of music, or privately, they can expect to pay a fee and my Department does not subsidise such fees. The Deputy may wish to note that students attending the courses run by County Cork, City of Dublin and the City of Limerick VEC pay a fee to the appropriate VEC.
My Department at present is examining policy issues relating to music education provision within the VEC sector. The need for any further development and/or supports in this area will be considered having regard to the outcome of this examination.
