Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 676: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in relation to the programme for Government proposal to expand the number of adult literacy training places by 4,000 on top of the extra 3,000 places put in place in 2007. [28725/08]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Between 1997 and 2007, funding for adult literacy has increased from €1m to €30m and in the same period, the number of participants has increased from 5,000 to over 44,000.

There are also a number schemes targeted at people with special literacy needs, e.g. deaf people and a literacy service in Irish for people in Gaeltacht areas. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment makes provision for literacy in the workplace through FÁS.

3,000 additional places were put in place in 2007. Provision has been made in the Estimates for 2008 for the allocation of a further 500 places. The distribution of this allocation is under examination at the moment.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 677: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in relation to the programme for Government proposal to increase the number of places on the back to education initiative to 10,000 and expand the vocational training opportunities scheme. [28726/08]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) provides an opportunity for adults to combine a 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.

There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to expand the number of BTEI places to 10,000 by 2009. 1,000 additional BTEI places were allocated in 2007 and funding has been made available in 2008 for an another 500 places which will bring the total number of places to 9,500.

Since its inception in 2002, funding for the BTEI has increased from just over €6m in 2002 to €18m in 2007. With effect from 1 September 2007, BTEI eligibility criteria were amended to allow free tuition to any adult with less than an upper second level education. Originally only people with a social welfare entitlement or medical card were entitled to free fees.

The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) provides a full-time education option for people who are over 21 years of age and in receipt of certain social welfare payments. The Government remains committed to increase the number of places on VTOS as outlined in the Programme for Government.