To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning, pursuant to AQW 40783/11-15, for his assessment of the capacity of further education colleges to independently provide this type of intervention; and what impact falling enrolment figures will have on the future of this programme.

The Further Education sector has continued to develop its internal capacity, awareness and expertise in targeting, engaging, and retaining those who are most hard to reach in mainstream further education provision, both in college campuses and in outreach centres. This capacity building has been further helped by partnerships with other organisations and agencies, including its collaboration with third party providers through their delivery of the Learner Access and Engagement programme (LAE).

This programe is largely focussed on delivering Essential Skills provision, with third party providers having responsibility for the engagement and retention of participants on the programme. However, there is evidence to support that the sector is engaging as many, if not more, students from the lower deprivation quintiles and, in addition, the sector’s retention rates on mainstream Essential Skills programmes have been consistently higher than those being achieved by third party providers on LAE.

Therefore, considering the issues above and the continued decrease in enrolment numbers on the LAE programme, the Department, in considering how best to ensure delivery of its key objectives and priorities, within current budgetary cuts, has taken the decision to discontinue the Programme with effect from 31 March 2015.

Officials are working with colleges and providers to ensure all those currently enrolled can complete their course of study and gain their qualifications.