Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

The Minister of Stateat the Department of Education and Science clearly stated that the recommendations of the McIver report demand a commitment of €48 million and the creation of 800 additional posts. It is obvious from what the Minister of State said that the commitment to service that need has not been made. The 21 recommendations of the McIver report are in response to the failure of successive Governments and Ministers for Education to deal adequately with the needs of the further education sector.

A welcome announcement was made last week on higher level education and the availability of €3.8 billion for new scientific research and development projects. The reality is, however, many people long to participate at that level and cannot achieve it. Most of the Minister of State's speech relates to adult literacy which is a problem that we all recognise. However the causes of this problem indicate the failure of the Minister for Education and Science to deal adequately with it at primary and second level.

Is it not a shame that 1,000 young people do not transfer from primary school to any form of second level education? That is the 2005 statistic. It is incomprehensible that this problem cannot be solved and nothing has been done to solve it. We were told welfare officers would be put in place. Only 73 are in place, yet there is a need for 300. Does this represent a commitment to solving the problems of adult and further education?

Educational research published as recently as 2005 shows some schools have a 60% dropout rate. The Minister for Education and Science and those involved in education today cannot be unaware of this. Research in urban and rural areas shows it affects the country as a whole. Given that some schools have a 60% dropout rate, how can we expect a highly successful labour force as grandiosely announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, the Minister for Education and Science and others last week.

The Minister of State referred to the Back to Education initiative, which was a wonderful scheme. Unfortunately, Deputy Coughlan, the former Minister for Social and Family Affairs, withdrew a good deal of support for it. This provoked an uproarious response which forced her into a U-turn that saw the initiative reinstated. How can the Minister of State suggest, on behalf of the Government, there is a commitment to Back to Education programmes when such uncertainty has been sown? This uncertainty reverberates down to the people who want to go back to education and commit themselves to a new way of life. They become despondent, turn their backs on education and are lost forever.

Finances were provided, in response to the McIver report, in last year's budget. Unfortunately, whether through the fault of the Minister of State or the Minister for Education and Science, most of that money has been left unspent or has not been utilised in the intended way. This is the sad reality of the commitment given to adult and further education. I agree with the Minister of State that were it not for the vocational education committees and the initiative taken by forward-thinking chief executive officers and adult education officers, together with staff, we would not have any worthwhile adult and further education structure at a national level. We commend them and acknowledge their work in that area. Unfortunately the many suggestions from the VECs to the Department and the Minister gather dust on the shelves as many other reports and initiatives have done.

I was a member of a VEC for approximately 15 years and I have witnessed the endeavours it has made to bring this problem to the fore. In further education, back to education and adult education, Ireland has the lowest participation rates in Europe. Some 2.5% of the student population in third level education is over 26 years of age while in other European countries up to 20% of the student population is in third level education. What does that say about us? It means there is not the commitment for people to have access to third level education.

Post-leaving certificate courses have been a tremendous asset in recent years in encouraging those who dropped out of the education system at primary or second level to re-enter. The McIver report clearly indicates there should be a specialised section to cater for that sector. If the Minister of State is serious about establishing further and adult education as a parallel to the other sectors in education, she cannot ignore this proposal any longer. If today she announced her commitment to establish an independent sector for adult and further education it would be a good day for those in that category. At least they would see there is a commitment to education and realise there is a Minister for Education and Science who is concerned about the issue. When I hear the response of many Ministers that they want to educate the workforce, wherever it might be, and that workers have to get an opportunity to change jobs during their lifetime, I am sceptical of their commitment to that objective other than to pay lip-service to it by way of statements and otherwise.

If we are serious about further education those who provide it, the tutors and the teachers, must have different work practices and a different structure of payment and status from those in second level. I appreciate that the Minister of State said she is in negotiation with all the participants. I hope those negotiations can be moved forward quickly to avoid delay. If there is a recognition of the need for the delivery of the service, special conditions will be put in place for the providers.

I would welcome a positive initiative in order that the problem can be resolved. An integral part of that recognition would be a change in hours and delivery of service because of the many difficulties involving child care and so on. There must also be a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. delivery of service and, as McIver proposed, there must be weekend availability of the service, all of which will put demands on the Minister of State and her officials who have to negotiate a response from those involved at ground level. If we are serious we will not short-change those involved and say it is disappointing we cannot get agreement if it is a matter of finance. The money must be available given that €3.8 billion has been allocated to the higher level for research and development. The strongest will survive in that area but unfortunately adult and further education has not been able to demand and receive adequate resources as distinct from the other sectors in education. The onus is on the Minister of State, as the person with responsibility for these negotiations, to demand the necessary resources for an adequate response in this area. The central point of the McIver report is that the Minister of State establish an independent sector that will not depend on crumbs from second level.

That the Minister of State has appointed 37 community education facilitators to the vocational education committees is welcome. The concept was initiated at ground level within the VEC sector. These people are at the coalface and know the problems at ground level and the need for co-ordination at that level. That many voluntary and statutory groups provide literacy programmes is a recognition of need. Frequently the literacy problem initially manifests itself in the workplace. As a result of intimidation, bullying or other social reasons, and the work situation, there is a need for greater co-operation and employers must be prepared to give a little. Some are not prepared to recognise there are people within their workforce who are in need of and want to further their education. Many of these people are told that if that is the case they will be replaced by someone else. That has happened and I am sure the Minister of State is well aware of it. Some employers are callous in regard to the needs of workers, particularly those who want, of their own initiative, to further their education. In the long run, if the employee was allowed to further his or her education it would be of great advantage to the employer.

Unless the Minister of State takes adult and further education out of the sandwich and puts it into a sector on its own we will always be against the tide. Sufficient funds were never available to the sector. Given the high drop-out rates at primary and second level education, what chance have those people of getting access to third level if the Minister of State's colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, does not deal with the issue? It is a shame that the funds provided in the 2006 budget have not been utilised fully and to the best effect possible.