Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 471: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to ensure that a centre (details supplied) in County Waterford can continue all their classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8454/07]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Adult and Further Education services are funded by my Department through annual grants and delivered locally by the Vocational Education Committees. One of these annual grants is for Adult Literacy and Community Education. The disbursement of funds for Adult Literacy and Community Education is a matter for each VEC, which, subject to its budget, decides the nature and extent of the Adult Literacy and Community Education services to be provided in its area and the manner in which funds for these services should be spent. The role of my Department is confined to paying the grants and receiving accounts of expenditure. Detailed records relating to the grant are compiled and retained by the VECs.

The Department, as an exceptional measure, recently approved an application from City Waterford VEC to transfer an excess on its Adult Literacy Programme to offset a deficit that arose on its Community Education Programme at the end of 2006. This transfer of funds alleviated in full the deficit arising on the Community Education Programme last year. Furthermore, following a request in January, an advance of this year's funds was made to enable the VEC to continue to provide all its existing programme of classes in its Community Education Programme.

The City of Waterford VEC has informed my Department, in response to an enquiry, that no classes have actually ceased on the pretext that they are not specifically aimed at target groups or due to funding issues. The VEC will shortly be notified by my Department of its funding provision for this year.