Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason Mayo Vocational Educational Committee is between €50,000 and €100,000 short on its budget when the pay increase due to the tutors under the national agreement was effectively offset against their summer holidays. [29853/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department was contacted by the chief executive officer of the County Mayo vocational committee, Mr. Joseph Langan, on Friday, 7 October, about the matter. My officials requested that the matter be put in writing so it could be considered. As yet no written communication has been received.

The adult literacy services are delivered locally by VECs under the budget for adult literacy, community education and the special initiatives for disadvantaged adults scheme. The national position regarding the allocations is as follows. All VECs were notified by letter from my Department on 30 March 2005 of their provision for 2005 covering their further education programmes. These include adult literacy and community education programme, the vocational training opportunities scheme, post leaving certificate courses, senior Traveller training centres, Youthreach and the back to education initiative.

The provision to County Mayo VEC for the adult literacy programme in 2005 is €422,187 as against an allocation of €406,176 for 2004. This represents an increase of 10.39% which was one of the highest percentage increases to any of the VECs. The corresponding increase in the overall subhead was 9%. This increase was in recognition of the demographic factors and the dispersed nature of the population in that county. The number of literacy clients for 2004 was 660.

Under the VEC Amendment Act 2001, each VEC must remain within its allocation for the year. The VEC has discretion over how it allocates its resources and the nature and extent of adult literacy provided. However, it is expected of each VEC that it plans its activities to ensure that literacy services are available throughout the year, based on the annual budget provided.

On a national level, my Department has increased the resources for adult literacy from some €1.3 million in 1997 to €22 million this year. Numbers of clients have increased from 5,000 in 2000 to 33,000 in 2004. County Mayo has played its part in the expansion of client numbers and service, as seen by an increase in clients from 316 in 2000 to 660 in 2004. The six month return to June 2005 indicates 763 clients. Notwithstanding the impressive increase in numbers it is very important that VECs must plan their literacy courses for the full 12 months within the budget provided.

I reiterate that my Department was given very little prior warning of this matter and looks forward to receiving written communication from County Mayo VEC. Until my Department receives written communication from County Mayo VEC, I cannot comment on the financial figures quoted in the Deputy's question.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she will take regarding the ending by Mayo Vocational Education Committee of literacy and back to education initiative schemes throughout the county until some unspecified time in January 2006; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a restart in January 2006 for BTEI students will not allow enough time to complete the course. [29854/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In March 2005, County Mayo Vocational Education Committee was notified by the Department of a budget allocation amounting to €529,000 in respect of back to education initiative or BTEI programmes, for the financial period January to December 2005. Approximately 232 places and 45,408 tutor hours are being supported in 2005. An initial payment of 60% of the budget allocation, that is, €292,002, was paid to County Mayo VEC in early May 2005. The balance of €236,998 of the budget allocated for this year is about to be paid.

The VEC has also requested an extra €50,000 in respect of additional activity. The CEO of County Mayo VEC has recently requested a meeting with the further education development unit to discuss this financial issue and this meeting is currently being arranged. The matters relating to literacy which the Deputy has also raised have been addressed in today's Question No. 173.