Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if in view of the importance of further education and the need for constant reskilling in a changing economy she will recognise the unique educational role of colleges of further education and their need to be considered as different from other school types for funding purposes. [33265/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to reskilling and upskilling adults and does this through the provision of a comprehensive Further Education suite of programmes at FETAC Level 1 to 6. Such programmes are predominantly delivered through the thirty three VEC's. In addition programmes are delivered by Secondary, and Community and Comprehensive schools and through community education.

With regard to larger Further Ed colleges the recently published "Towards 2016: Ten Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement 2006 -2015" has noted that having regard to developments in the PLC sector, including the McIver report, concrete prioritised proposals in relation to PLC provision and focused in particular on the larger PLC providers will be prepared and will be the subject of further negotiations between management and unions. The level of resources for the PLC sector will be determined in the light of resources generally and the implications for other areas of education.

I want to invest in educational opportunity for all learners in the Further Education sector by providing the necessary system supports that will allow the sector as a whole to fulfil its important potential.