Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The Government has prioritised a major expansion of opportunities in adult and further education. Between 2002 and 2007, expenditure on these areas increased by over 50%, from €256 million to €392 million. This increased investment helped to improve opportunities by expanding the number of places on further education courses from 44,000 in 2002 to 49,000 in 2007.

These include more than 30,000 places on post-leaving certificate courses; 9,000 places on the back to education initiative; 5,000 on the vocational training opportunities scheme; almost 3,700 Youthreach places; and 1,100 places on training schemes for travellers. In addition, the adult literacy programme provided for 44,000 learners in 2007 compared to 28,000 in 2002.

Towards 2016 included specific commitments to increase the number of places in the adult literacy programmes, in Youthreach and in the back to education initiative over the period 2007 to 2009. A total of 3,000 extra adult literacy places were created in 2007 and provision has been made for an extra 500 in 2008. In addition, arising from the provision for family literacy in the delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, action plan funding was provided for seven family literacy projects in 2007. In Youthreach, an additional 400 places were approved in 2007 and there is provision for 100 more in 2008.

A total of 1,000 extra places were also provided on the back to education initiative, BTEI, last year and fees were abolished for all participants in the BTEI with less than an upper second level education. In 2008, the Department is providing for 500 more BTEI places.

Apart from progress on meeting the Towards 2016 commitments, other significant improvements have been made in the further education area in recent years. The adult guidance initiative has been expanded; funding for child care in further education has been increased, benefiting more than 1,700 students last year; it is estimated that the number of participants on community education programmes has increased from 20,000 in 2002 to 30,000 in 2007; and the number of places on post-leaving certificate courses, PLC, has also increased. The Government therefore has made substantial progress both in terms of the Towards 2016 commitments and across the further and adult education sector as a whole.

I am particularly conscious of the need to continue to improve second chance opportunities and help people to improve their skills and I assure the Deputy that further improvements in this regard are a priority for me.

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