A Dublin's women's development group that complained on The Late Late Show that its adult literacy programme was in jeopardy due to a lack of funding has been given the money it needs.
The Bawnogue Women's Group in Clondalkin received a letter on Monday approving funds for its 10-week adult literacy programme. Details of the approval were revealed yesterday by the Minister of State for Adult Education, Ms Síle de Valera, when she stressed there had been no funding cuts in adult literacy.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said it was a mere coincidence that the letter of approval was received by the Clondalkin project from Co Dublin Vocational Education Committee following the TV appearance last Friday by some of those involved in it. She said verbal approval of the funding would have been given before the TV show.
Ms de Valera said allocations for adult literacy and community education had increased by 23 per cent this year, to €24.5 million. "While literacy funds have increased 16-fold since 1997, the demand for services still outstrips supply. Investment in this area is increasing as quickly as possible and the Programme for Government is committed to continuing to increase funding for adult literacy.
"However, there are a variety of competing demands to be met in the adult education sector and in the broader education system," she said. A package of €36 million in cuts planned by the Department of Education includes a €3.8 million cut in funding for adult education courses.