Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I said before, Cork Life Centre provides a very considerable service to a very important cohort of learners with a diverse range of needs whose individual requirements can be such that it can be difficult for them at times to be in mainstream education but who really flourish and develop well within the centre and under the supports available there. The centre plays a very important role in providing an holistic educational service. As a result of discussions, a package of support of €175,500 and 6,000 teaching hours to the centre for this school year is now being provided. It is important to state this level of co-operation is a baseline level of provision for the centre from both the Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The scope of the review of the out-of-school sector, which the Deputy talked about, includes Cork Life Centre. The recommendations of the review will inform future policy. It will be published shortly.

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