I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together.
In the years 2008 to 2013 my Department provided the following funding to the former Vocational Educational Committees (VEC) to fund their Youthreach programmes –
2008 - €66.9m
2009 - €67.6m
2010 - €69.9m
2011 - €73m
2012 - €70m
2013 - €68.5m
The annual survey of Youthreach learners indicated that the following numbers of learners completed their Youthreach programme in each of the years 2008 to 2012, figures for 2013 are not yet available –
2008 - 832
2009 - 790
2010 - 924
2011 - 1,068
2012 - 1,117
There were some 3,700 places on Youthreach at any one time over the period in question.