Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress in terms of extending opportunity to persons who avail of adult education, particularly in view of Government commitments in the Towards 2016 partnership programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6868/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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In earlier replies to Deputies Brian Hayes and Quinn, the Minister clearly indicated the allocation of funds for sections within her Department. Nowhere however, did she indicate what additional funding was being provided for lifelong learning and adult education despite her commitments in the Towards 2016 partnership programme to put in place a targeted fund to alleviate the fees for part-time third level courses for those at work who have not previously benefitted from third level education. Her reply never mentioned a statement to the effect she will honour this commitment.

As for early school leavers, the Minister promised 1,000 places in 2008 for Youthreach. While she informed Members earlier that there are no cutbacks, her reply, which referred to a provision of less than half that commitment, clearly indicates a cutback provision.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The likelihood is that these will not be fulfilled either.

On the question of education in the workplace, it was clearly indicated there would be a commitment to subsidise employers to allow employees to participate in furthering their education. At present 400,000 members, or 28%, of the workforce have an educational level that is less than junior certificate level and nothing is being done for them. While the Minister can baffle Members with selective figures if she wishes, she has completely failed in 2008 to honour the commitments she had given.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the three points raised. The budget for adult education is €392 million, which is a highly significant amount and is targeted at a number of different areas because a flexible approach must be adopted to reach that particular cohort of people. The programme for Government has set out that it must be flexible to cover all the areas I have mentioned.

The Youthreach places will be expanded this year to meet the needs of that group of vulnerable young people. The Deputy asked about free fees for approved part-time courses, which is a commitment under Towards 2016. What has happened is that the Higher Education Authority has developed proposals for a modular accreditation programme that allows flexibility in the manner in which people are able to undertake the courses. Such individuals will receive a substantial fee subsidy as part of that initiative. Deputy Hayes might be interested to learn the third level institutions intend to start this process in October in Tallaght——

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Another pilot scheme.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is trying to buy me off.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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However, this is a commitment under Towards 2016 and this is 2008. It will reach out to a particular market.

The Deputy's third point pertained to workplace literacy. As he noted, this is an extremely important area. Because it is based in the workplace, it is being dealt with under the auspices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and €3 million has been allocated for this initiative this year.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister must accept that for most participants in adult education and lifelong learning, a series of obstacles exist to prevent access to such initiatives. I refer to the fees and the costs involved. In the area of child care, there is no indication that either the Minister for Education and Science or the Minister for Social and Family Affairs will help to support single parents to return to education in respect of fees and childminding costs while they are involved outside their workplace. As for the back to education allowance, it was withdrawn two years ago and was reinstated on foot of public outrage. However, the criteria by which this scheme is administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs makes it almost impossible for many people to avail of it. Unless such people are out of work and proven to be in receipt of one, two or three special allowances, they cannot avail of the back to school allowance. Therefore, the very low-paid people who work every day cannot access this allowance if they wish to avail of back to education courses.

There should be clarity between the Departments of Education and Science and Social and Family Affairs in this regard. One or other Department should take up the issue and devise an allowance process that people can follow to gain access to third level education.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In respect of the back to education initiative, between last year and this year, an additional 1,500 people are benefitting from it. Consequently, I do not believe the Deputy is correct to state it is obviously too restrictive. It is a highly valuable source of support for many people. As for child care, the adult education child care service is available to those who participate in the vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, and it was expanded last year. It now caters for 1,700 student parents and their 2,300 children. This is a highly flexible approach and it deals with everyone, adults, early school leavers, travellers and groups in general that have under-participated in the various levels of education. I believe that between the different Departments, it is targeting all the different groups. Given the investment of €392 million in all the aforementioned areas, as well as the inclusion of the two critical elements of child care and education guidance, real results will be seen from this initiative.