Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1088: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the accessing college education project (details supplied) in Tallaght West, Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1144/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am familiar with the project and attended the project's annual awards ceremony on 15 December last. The accessing college education programme since its foundation in 1998 as a pilot project, has demonstrated that, by working closely together, schools, students, their families and third level colleges can build confidence in young people to fulfil their true potential. The programme has proved to be of great benefit to participants from St. Aidan's Community School, Jobstown Community College and Killinarden Community School.

The programme receives funding from my Department, with over €250,000 being provided since 1998. In 2004 my Department provided a grant of €80,800 to the programme to encourage more young people to take the next step towards staying in education. It is imperative that locally-based innovations like the accessing college education programme are encouraged and promoted. I am delighted that my Department has been able to support the project through the provision of grants over the last number of years. More importantly, I am determined that wider national policy initiatives for improving access to higher education will support and complement the efforts of projects like the accessing college education programme in the future.