Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 775: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if additional funding will be made available to the vocational education committees in 2006 to ensure continuity of their courses, with particular regard to adult literacy courses and the back to education initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10494/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department funds a number of further education programmes through annual grants to the vocational education committees which provide the programmes, including adult literacy and back to education programmes. Grants amounting to €18.8 million were initially provided to VECs for adult literacy in 2005. When additional funding became available during the year, the provision was increased to €19.9 million and the provision for 2006 is €19.9 million. The grants paid to VECs for the back to education programme in 2005 amounted to €11.82 million and €13.6 million has been provided in 2006.