asked the Minister for Education if he has any proposals for funding for students in child care courses in third level VEC colleges who, as a condition of their acceptance of such course, have had to leave paid employment.

The primary objective in introducing part-time child care courses in third level VEC colleges was to allow serving personnel in residential child care an opportunity to gain an appropriate qualification. Participants should, therefore, be working in an approved child care setting from which base they would be released to attend classes on two days each week during the academic year. Participants should be in their normal employment on the other three days each week. Accordingly, the question of funding for these students should not arise.