Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senators for making a coherent case in respect of Tanagh outdoor education centre. I apologise for the absence of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who is unable to attend the debate. As Senators will learn, I have a personal interest in this matter.

Outdoor education centres, such as the centre in Tanagh, County Monaghan, have been developed by vocational education committees in the interests of providing outdoor education programmes to enhance the quality of the educational experience for young people. The core areas that outdoor education programmes aim to facilitate include fostering greater environmental awareness; breaking down of social barriers and prejudices; developing personal competencies and enhancement of life skills; and promoting healthy lifestyles.

The VEC outdoor education centres cater mainly for primary and post-primary students, including young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, third-level students, youth groups, special needs groups and adults. During periods when centres are not fully utilised for educational purposes, school holidays in particular, they generate additional income by providing courses on a commercial basis for the leisure and tourism market. More than 100,000 activity days are provided by the outdoor education centres for school pupils.

The nine recognised VEC outdoor education centres are Gartan, County Donegal; Achill, County Mayo; Petersburg, County Galway; Burren, County Clare; Kinsale, County Cork; Shielbaggan, County Wexford; Birr, County Offaly; Kilfinane, County Limerick; and Cappanalea, County Kerry. A further three centres, Tanagh in County Monaghan, Baltinglass in County Wicklow — hence my personal interest in this issue — and Schull in County Cork, are not recognised by the Department.

Funding was originally approved for the outdoor education centres on the basis that they would be self-financing and their financial activities would be separate from the overall VEC finances. Accordingly, the Department's annual grants are contributory in nature and the allocations are made mainly towards the core staffing costs involved in running the centres. The funding provided by the Department of Education and Science for the centres, including Tanagh outdoor education centre, has increased considerably in recent years and now stands at approximately €2 million annually. Tanagh outdoor education centre has also benefited from a significant increase in its allocation, which has been increased from €98,000 in 1998 to €130,000 this year.

I understand County Monaghan VEC has requested that formal recognition be given by the Department to the Tanagh outdoor education centre. Discussions have taken place between the Department and the VEC in the matter and the Department anticipates that once governance, management and financial arrangements to apply in the centre have been finalised with the VEC, the matter of the recognition of Tanagh outdoor education centre can be addressed.

I thank Senators for raising this matter. I will pass on their positive comments about the role of Tanagh outdoor education centre to the Minister for Education and Science, specifically their point that a bargain appears to be on offer.