Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the withdrawal of funding in respect of the provision of language and integration services for refugees at nine centres across the country including those at Ballina and Castlebar; if he will further confirm the moneys paid by his Department for these services in each year since 2002 to date in 2008 and that these services are to cease at the end of July 2008; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of the language service for refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25065/08]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Integrate Ireland Language and Training Ltd. (IILT) approached my Department earlier this year with a proposal to withdraw from direct tuition for adult refugees and with a request that this tuition be mainstreamed. IILT envisaged continuing direct tuition for a group of up to 200 programme refugees. My Department accepted that mainstreaming of service provision was appropriate as it accords with the overall approach to provision of services to migrants as set out in "Migration Nation" — a statement on integration strategy and diversity management which I recently launched. In doing so the Department decided that all provision should be mainstreamed and provided by VECs as it would make no sense to seek to continue with a small element of provision by IILT.

The funding allocated to IILT will now be redirected to provide for the continuation of this service through the VEC network. The Irish Vocational Education Association has confirmed that it is happy to cooperate and collaborate with my Department in delivery of necessary English language services. The VEC sector has already developed best practice in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) provision. The sector is already providing English language services for those whose first language is not English. At present services are provided to over 12,000 people annually which clearly demonstrates the capacity of the VECs in this area. A further advantage of mainstreaming such provision through the VEC sector is the fact that the VECs have a nationwide network across all counties and cities that can readily provide classes where needed in the country using their facilities in schools and centres. The information regarding the funding paid to IILT in each year since 2002 is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy when available.