Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was given a briefing on this matter similar to that given to party leaders. The other issue that I wish to talk about briefly is adult education and guidance services and the tremendous job those involved have done throughout the worst years of the recession. They have dealt with 52,000 people each year. I do not know whether we fully respect the work that is being done in adult guidance. There is a paltry budget of €6.55 million. They are pushing these sorts of numbers through adult education and guidance while the two new companies, Turas Nua and Seetec, have a budget of €54 million between them. From what I can gather, they have only managed to get 18% of those going through their system into full-time employment. We need to look at the way money is spent on further education and training. I know the Leader has an interest in this area. Perhaps, he might organise at his leisure a debate in the House on further education and training in particular. I attended a conference with a group called NETINVET in Europe. It was staggering to see the work being done in further education and training throughout Europe. Maybe we might get the Minister before the House and get an opportunity to review where we are going with further education and training in Ireland.