Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I want to be very clear. The supports provided to the Cork Life Centre have not changed. In fact, they have increased considerably since I became Minister.

A figure of €177,500 was provided directly, and 6,000 co-operation hours were provided between the Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science which, again, is equivalent to 8.5 full-time posts. We have not, therefore, changed the resource. In fact, we have increased it in the past two years and it remains in place this year, as it did last year. That is a significant investment from the Department, notwithstanding the challenges faced by Cork Life Centre. I want to acknowledge that.

In terms of the review and now the implementation group, we are seeking to do all we can to make Cork Life Centre and other centres sustainable. That is what Cork Life Centre wants and, indeed, what we all want, recognising that there is a place for out-of-school education provision to meet the needs of students who might require it.

As I said previously, the implementation group is ongoing. The review has been completed and the implementation group is now doing its body of work. There is a significant body of work to get through. As I referenced earlier, there is significant representation on that group. It is chaired by the ex-CEO of the City of Dublin Education and Training Board. The body of work has begun-----