Environmental Education.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2004

Thursday, 19 February 2004

Ceisteanna (131, 132)

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

128 Mr. Éamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the support mechanisms that are available from his Department for the establishment and operation of environmental education facilities in association with urban city farms such as the Airfield Trust; the grant assistance or other support mechanisms currently provided by his Department to this trust (details supplied); and the section within his department that the Airfield Trust should liaise with, in seeking State assistance, for their planned introduction of new environmental technology demonstration projects on the farm. [5576/04]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

155 Mr. Éamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the support mechanisms available within his Department for the establishment and operation of environmental educational centres in association with urban city farms; the grant assistance or other support mechanisms currently provided by his Department to the Airfield Trust in Dundrum (details supplied); and the section within his Department that the Airfield Trust should liaise with in seeking State assistance for their planned introduction of new educational programmes. [5577/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 155 together.

My Department does not have funding available to support the operation of environmental education city farms. However, it facilitates the operation of Airfield Trust through the secondment of two teachers on a cost recoupment basis, and through hire and use of the venue for delivery of inservice training to teachers on environmental education, for part delivery of aspects of post-leaving certificate courses in collaboration with local colleges of further education, and a farm studies module as part of the transition year programme.

Airfield Trust is also a popular venue for school educational visits, and the cost of these are partly funded by student contributions and a small grant from Blackrock education centre.

There may be some scope for funding of part time adult education programmes at further education level for specific targeted groups under the back to education initiative community strand. The deadline for applications for 2004 courses under this Initiative is 20 February 2004. A copy of the guidelines and application form are on the Department's website at www.education.ie under further education. My Department has contacted the trust to inform them of this.