Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy will be aware that I administer a number of adult and further education schemes, including Youthreach, the back to education initiative and the adult literacy schemes. This country's serious and difficult financial position has meant that I have had to reduce the number of places being offered on some schemes, unfortunately, including Traveller training schemes and the back to education initiative. I made the retention of places in adult literacy programmes an absolute priority. The Government is giving serious consideration to matters like upskilling and lifelong learning in the context of the changed economic circumstances and the increase in unemployment. New policy initiatives in that regard may be announced in the coming weeks.

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