Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1491: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his Department's role and responsibility in conjunction with the Health Service Executive regarding the operation of an educational establishment (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1168/09]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1492: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his Department's relationship with a centre (details supplied) in County Cork where schooling is provided for children with special needs; if his Department is involved in funding this centre in the payment of teachers employed at the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1169/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1491 and 1492 together.

The project to which the Deputy refers was set up by the Christian Brothers as a response to the needs of marginalised young people, aged 12-16 years, who are out of mainstream education. The needs of the young people that the project aims to address include certification, preparation for work, a positive attitude towards society, communication, computer and recreational skills.

My Department has provided funding to this project towards programme costs, through the Fund for the Development of Targeted Educational Responses to Certain Children at Risk, since 2000. The objective of the Fund is to develop preventative and supportive programmes, which are targeted at children and young people who are at risk of educational disadvantage and social exclusion. A key focus of the initiative is the empowerment of local communities to develop innovative and flexible programmes that address identified needs of intended participants.

The project has also been supported by my Department through an annual allocation of 968 teaching hours under the Co-Operation with Other Institutions Scheme since 2001. A Review of the Co-operation Hours Scheme is currently being finalised. While the allocation of resources to individual schools is not a matter for the Review to examine, the policy under which such allocations are made are being considered as part of this Review.

The project indicated in their application for funding, that they also receive support through other sources such as fund-raising, and HSE. Seven projects, including this project, will be evaluated by the Evaluation Support and Research Unit of my Department in conjunction with the Inspectorate in early 2009. It is expected that the evaluation will make recommendations as to the future arrangements for supporting appropriate projects and/or models of intervention.