Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

Outdoor education centres, such as the centre in Tanagh, County Monaghan, have been developed by vocational education committees in the interests of providing outdoor education programmes to enhance the quality of the educational experience for young people. Outdoor education programmes aim to foster greater environmental awareness, break down social barriers and prejudices, encourage the development of personal competencies, enhance life skills and promote healthy lifestyles.

The VEC outdoor education centres cater mainly for primary and post-primary students, including young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. They also cater for third level students, youth groups, special needs groups and adults. At certain times, particularly during school holiday periods when the centres are not fully utilised for educational purposes, they generate additional income by providing courses on a commercial basis for the leisure and tourism market. Over 100,000 activity days are provided by outdoor education centres for school pupils. Currently there are nine recognised VEC outdoor education centres and a further three centres, including the one in Tanagh, that are not recognised by the Department.

Funding was originally approved for outdoor education centres on the basis that they would be self financing and that their financial activities would be separate from the overall VEC finances. Accordingly, the Department's annual grants are contributory in nature and the allocations go mainly towards the core staffing costs involved in running the centres. The funding provided by the Department for the centres, including the one at Tanagh, has increased considerably in recent years and now stands at some €2 million annually. Tanagh Outdoor Education Centre has also benefited from a significant increase in its allocation, from €98,000 in 1998 to over €130,000 in 2006.

County Monaghan VEC has requested that formal recognition be given by the Department to the Tanagh Outdoor Education Centre. Discussions have taken place between the Department and the VEC on the matter and the Department anticipates that when governance, management and financial arrangements to apply in the centre have been finalised, the matter of recognition of the centre can be addressed.

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