Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans, in view of the increasing unemployment rates among the unskilled, to increase learning opportunities for adults within the wider context of life long learning and to eliminate the strong inequities in terms of access and the provision of funding for those on part time courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13498/08]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has and will continue to put the resources and supports in place to ensure there are a wide range of course options available in the Further and Higher Education sectors for people who wish to continue their studies after second-level or return to education later in life. The priority target group of Further Education programmes generally is those who are educationally disadvantaged and who lack basic skills. For adults over 21 years old who are long-term unemployed, the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme introduced in late 1989, provides second chance education and training. Participants receive a training allowance in lieu of Social Welfare payments along with travel and meal allowances. A weekly bonus payment of €31.80 is payable to those who have been receiving a qualifying social welfare payment for 12 months before joining the programme. My Department provides funding for part-time learning opportunities for adults through The Back to Education Initiative, (BTEI) which was launched in 2002. It comprises two strands: the formal strand (Vocational Education Committees and Secondary, Special and Community and Comprehensive Schools) and the community strand (community groups and organisations). The BTEI aims to give adults who wish to return to education an opportunity to combine their return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. Programmes are offered on a part-time basis in the mornings, afternoons, evenings or at weekends. Its priority group is adults with less than upper second level education. It plays a key role in addressing the needs of those with minimal or no education qualifications and providing a re-entry route for those who wish to upgrade their skills in line with emerging needs. These courses lead to accredited outcomes through the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) at levels 1-6.

Since its inception, funding for the BTEI has increased from just over €6 million in 2002 to €18 million in 2007. From 1 September 2007 fees for participants on BTEI programmes with less than upper second level education were eliminated. Originally only people with a social welfare entitlement or medical card were entitled to free fees. Some 9,000 BTEI places were provided throughout the country in 2007 and funding has been made available for a further 500 places this year. Under Towards 2016 the Government is committed to expanding the BTEI to 10,000 places by 2009. Towards 2016 also contains a commitment to put in place a targeted scheme to alleviate the fees in public institutions for part-time courses at third level, for those in employment or seeking to enter employment, who have not previously pursued a third level qualification. As a first step towards the implementation of this commitment, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has developed a pilot Modular Accreditation Programme (MAP) to be delivered on a flexible part time basis through a number of third level institutions. Students participating in the programme will benefit from a substantial fee subsidy. The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to introduce a more extensive new system of means-tested free fees, with a view to enabling more people with work or family commitments to avail of opportunities at third level. The timescale for implementing this commitment will depend on the resources available in future Budgets.