Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, to the House. I congratulate him on his appointment and I wish him well.

There is great disquiet in Waterford that Waterford City VEC may have to axe many adult and community education classes. The news has sparked outrage and disappointment, especially among many senior citizens, who are dismayed at the suggested discontinuation of some of the classes, such as languages, arts, crafts and computers. We should surely be encouraging people, especially our senior citizens, to broaden their horizons by updating their skills. After all, they created this Celtic tiger of ours. These classes are of great importance to older people. The Department of Health and Children has been emphasising the need for older people to keep active as long as possible, yet the Department of Education and Science is not providing sufficient funding for older people to continue further education.

The adult education centre runs 100 classes and caters for over 1,400 people annually. The budget is a mere €130,000, which is a pittance when one considers the benefits that people accrue from these classes. Senior citizens, refugees and members of the travelling community are among some of the diverse groups that attend the centre, and they derive great satisfaction from their courses. It would be a travesty of justice if these people were to lose out because of the lack of funding, which is not a major amount. I ask the Minister of State to ensure that sufficient funds are granted to Waterford City VEC to allow the continuation of these classes.

I have been inundated with letters from senior citizens. In the most recent, which I received today, the writer said that at the class of 21 February the manager of the centre advised that unless there was a significant increase in the centre's funding for 2007 — apparently the centre has not yet been advised of its allocation for 2007 — the adult education centre could not continue to provide the number of classes currently provided and some classes would have to be axed. No decision had yet been made on which classes would be axed.

This is the problem faced by adult learners and it is a matter of grave disquiet for them and all people using the centre. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.