Written answers

Tuesday, 6 March 2007

Department of Education and Science

Adult Education

11:00 pm

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the projected cost of the 7000 extra adult literacy places within the VEC sector as promised in Towards 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8674/07]

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Last summer, "Towards 2016", the Ten Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement, was ratified. The Framework takes a life cycle perspective, as it addresses the economic challenges, and, in particular, the key social challenges that lie ahead. It focuses on children, people of working age, older people and people with disabilities.

Adult literacy and basic education have been the Government's top priority in Adult Education, as participation in any educational programme is impossible if one is unable to benefit from it because of poor literacy and numeracy skills.

I am providing for an increase of €7.4 million, or 21%, in the funding for Adult Literacy and Community Education this year. This additional funding, amongst other things, will allow for 3,000 additional literacy places in 2007 bringing the number of participants up to 38,000.

Following on the "Towards 2016" Agreement, there will be 4,000 additional places available up to 2009, to bring the total to 42,000. In addition, to increasing the numbers of participants in the general literacy services, the increase this year will allow for the special intensive literacy project that was initiated in 2006 to be offered on twice the scale in 2007. Funding for this project will be €2 million this year.

Adult and Further Education services are funded by my Department through annual grants to VECs. The disbursement of adult literacy funds is a matter for each VEC who deliver the services locally.

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