Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 846: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will increase the teaching hours for persons (details supplied); and if she will provide the families with the maximum support. [10038/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The question relates to students in the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI). Under the BTEI, part-time Further Education programmes are provided for adults to give them an opportunity to combine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. The BTEI is funded by my Department and delivered locally by the Vocational Education Committees (VECs). People with disabilities are one of the target-groups of the programme.

A total of €1,788,575 has been allocated by my Department to the City of Dublin VEC for 2007 under the Back to Education Initiative. This budget is used to fund courses that are delivered in the college referred to for the students in question. The courses are organised by the college in response to needs articulated by the authorities of the students' place of residence. These students currently have access to courses in Communications, ICT and Art for up to 6 hours a week. The BTEI budget is also designed to allow providers to make additional supports, such as literacy or study support, available to participants where necessary and appropriate.