Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will make provisions available for adults to access the current up-skilling and returning to education courses that are available through an adult education centre (details supplied) which is registered with FETAC and NUI Maynooth, County Kildare. [22135/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the centre referred to by the Deputy is a private body that charges a fee for its courses. My Department provides funding to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) nationwide for a range of part-time and full-time accredited and non-accredited further and adult education programmes. Part-time programmes are available free of charge to anyone with a less than upper second level education.

Youthreach for early school leavers and the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) for unemployed people over 21 years of age including lone parents and those on disability allowances are full-time programmes that are also free. Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) full-time programmes are for school leavers and adults returning to education and are free to welfare recipients, those who have a medical card and those eligible for receipt of a maintenance grant (other participants pay a €200 participant contribution). In 2011, there were some 170,000 participants in such programmes and this level of provision is being maintained in 2012. Individuals can get more information on these programmes from their local VEC.