Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 497: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in guaranteeing that every person who left school without completing the junior cycle will be offered a chance to undertake an education course. [19626/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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This Government is strongly committed to improving participation and achievement at every level of education. We have put the resources and supports in place to ensure that there is a wide range of course options available in the Further Education sector for people who left school with less than upper secondary level education.

A range of second chance education programmes is available for young people and adults who have either left school early or who need further vocational training to enhance their employment prospects. These programmes are provided mainly by the Vocational Education Committees but also in schools and colleges and by community-based education groups. The programmes supported by the Department are complemented by a range of courses provided by FÁS and other education and training providers.

Within the framework of the priorities identified in the White Paper on Adult Education (2000), the principal objectives of the measures and programmes funded by the Department of Education and Science in the Further and Adult Education area are:

To meet the needs of young early school-leavers;

To provide vocational education and training opportunities for labour market entrants and re-entrants and alternative pathways to higher education; and,

To provide second chance education for adults.

These objectives are pursued through full-time programmes such as Youthreach, Senior Traveller Training Centres, and the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, and part-time programmes such as the Back to Education Initiative, Adult Literacy courses, and the Community Education Scheme. On completion of such programmes, a student may progress to Post-Leaving Certificate courses, or other provisions.

An Education Equality Initiative to address gaps in provision of learning and training for educationally disadvantaged people has been funded by the Department.

Additional support is provided for some categories of student through an Adult Guidance Initiative and childcare support.