Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will make additional funding available for adult education programmes organised by the vocational educational committees in view of the increase in unemployment that has occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34124/08]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has put substantial resources and supports in place to ensure that there are a wide range of course options available in the Further Education sector 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.

Between 2002 and 2007 expenditure on these areas increased by over 50%, from €256 million to €392 million. This increased investment helped to improve opportunities by expanding the number of places in further education programmes from 44,000 in 2002 to 49,000 in 2007.

These include:

More than 30,000 places in the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme;

5,000 places on the Vocational Training Opportunities (VTOS) Scheme;

9,500 places on the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI);

Almost 3,700 Youthreach places; and

Almost 1,100 places on the Senior Traveller Training Centre programme.

In addition the adult literacy programme provided for 44,000 learners in 2007 compared with 28,000 in 2002.

Other significant improvements have been made in the further education area in recent years:

the Adult Guidance Initiative has been expanded to cater for the increased number of learners

funding for childcare has been expanded to include learners on the Back to Education Initiative

free tuition on BTEI programmes has been extended to include all those with less than upper second level education

We are committed to developing adult education programmes as resources permit.