Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 723: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there is an on-line national database of adult learning opportunities and a national telephone helpline service; if not, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10124/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Qualifax is an on-line database of educational courses. The Qualifax database includes listings and data on some 12,000 courses, including all undergraduate and postgraduate courses at third level, post-leaving certificate provision, evening and short-term courses at both second and third level, a range of further education courses, including VTOS, Youthreach, Traveller training and adult literacy courses. Details of FÁS, Fáilte Ireland and Teagasc training courses are also provided.

Qualifax provides a range of data on each course, including a description of the course, the qualification entailed, entry requirements, the institution in which it is offered, and relevant fees, grants and entitlements and application procedure. Qualifax also provides a range of support elements, including career descriptions, interest assessment and CAO points calculation software, student support information, careers events and calendars, etc. The Qualifax database is accessible on-line and is also provided for schools free of charge on CD for ease of access in a multi-user environment.

In addition, an adult education guidance service was developed to meet the needs of adult learners. Some 35 guidance projects were funded in 2005. The service offers information, advice and guidance to help people make the best possible choices for learning. The National Centre for Guidance in Education oversees the service. The Qualifax database complements the work of the emerging adult education guidance service by providing free of charge a coherent national information base that may be self-accessed by learners and providers, guidance services, as well as many other actors situated across the education system. A telephone helpline as referred to by the Deputy has not been established.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 724: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if an on-line management information system to provide further education centres here with information on participation patterns and outcomes of further education programmes has been developed by her Department; if not, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10125/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

FEMIS, further education management information system, is one of a number of projects identified by the Department under its e-government strategy. The principal objective of FEMIS is to meet the management information needs of programme providers and the Department in regard to monitoring the participation of specific groups in the further education sector, in addition to providing timely and regular data on the overall provision and outcomes; providing management information on PLC, Youthreach, VTOS, senior Traveller training and adult literacy programmes and on part-time options as operated under the Department's back to education initiative; claim processing and financial reporting requirements.

Data collection and analysis in this area continue to be managed by reference to paper-based reports and records. To date, the order of priorities of IT-related initiatives in the Department of Education and Science has not allowed for the development of this project.