Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 711: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if grant funding for a course in training and education was allocated directly to the county vocational educational committee in 2005 when in previous years funding was allocated via a person (details supplied); the way in which this person can go about applying for a grant for fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28720/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Further and adult education in-career training budgets hitherto administered by individual national co-ordinators of Youthreach, senior Traveller training centres and VTOS programmes have been amalgamated into one continuing professional development, CPD, budget to be administered and spent locally by vocational education committees, VECs. This new approach will ensure the decision-making process in deploying a budget moves from national to local level. It will also enable the VECs to integrate existing further and adult in-career development programme budgets into a single continuing professional development budget that supports both full-time and part-time staff working in VEC managed and co-ordinated programmes.

Annual funding is made available to provide certainty on the available CPD funding so that VECs can plan an annual CPD programme; standardise the approach to the provision of CPD in further and adult education at national and local levels; maximise the effectiveness, coherence and reach of CPD activities; facilitate decision-making at the point of delivery of CPD activities; encourage provision of generic CPD programmes; encourage VECs to consider providing joint CPD programmes and stimulate and support further and adult education programmes.

Each VEC, including that in County Wexford, has been allocated funding for 2005 for the delivery of a continuing professional programme for Youthreach, senior Traveller training centre and VTOS staff. Individuals seeking financial support towards the cost of fees may make applications directly to their respective employer VEC.