Adult education programmes in general are not provided in purpose-built accommodation. Programmes such as VTOS are provided either in emerging spare accommodation in schools or in rented premises and are equipped on an ongoing basis through their non-pay budgets.
Within the constraints of available resources and in view of the prospect that accommodation will increasingly become available through a decline in mainstream enrolments in the school system, it would not be practical or cost effective to develop a general system of capital provision for adult education.
As a result of a recent initiative, limited capital funding for premises for adult education can be made available in cases where special difficulties arise through, for example, the unavailability of accommodation for rent. Such funding comes from within the provision for first, second and third-level institutions, rather than from VTOS funds and is subject to the priorities governing the use of capital funds. I envisage that this arrangement will continue. I also envisage that adult education will for the most part continue to be provided in existing school buildings or in rented premises.