Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Community Programmes

The Department funds, and in some cases administers, a range of programmes of support for community development so that socially excluded groups and local communities can be active participants in identifying and meeting their own development needs, working alongside the Statutory Agencies and others involved in local development initiatives.

The Ministers for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, advised the Government in February 2003 that they were initiating a review process to secure the most positive impacts for communities from expenditure through programmes in this area.

The Voluntary and Community Services (VCS) Section of the Department administers the following Programmes and Schemes:

Community Development Programme

This Programme provides financial assistance to fund community development projects in disadvantaged areas. It also provides support for self-help work in specific target groups that experience disadvantage - disadvantaged women and men, lone parents, travellers, etc. - in order to help them articulate their point of view and participate in a process of personal and community development. The Programme is included in the National Development Plan as a sub-measure in the social inclusion measures in the Regional Operational Programmes.

Back to Education Initiative

The Back To Education Initiative provides part-time Further Education programmes for young people and adults. The aim is to give people an opportunity to combine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. Anyone who has left full-time education can take part in a course being offered, but priority will be given to those with less than upper second level education. Fees will not be charged for people who are in receipt of social welfare entitlements. It is proposed to offer the following courses in 2005.

Objectives Of The Back To Education Initiative

The overall objectives of the BTEI are:

  • To increase the participation of young people and adults with less than upper secondary education in a range of flexible learning opportunities.
  • A set of broadly agreed principles make explicit the values underpinning the BTEI - namely Learner Centeredness, Equality, Accessibility & Inclusiveness, Recognising & Accommodating Diversity, Innovation, Local Consultation and Quality Assurance.
  • A priority of BTEI is to target the individuals and groups that experience particular and acute barriers to participation in education and are more difficult to engage in the formal learning process.

Who Can Take Part In The BTEI Programme?
Anyone who has left full-time education can take part in a course being offered, but priority will be given to those with less than the Leaving Certificate. The BTEI is intended to make further education provision more accessible generally.


What Courses Are Available Through BTEI?
Courses Offered Can Include:
Subjects at Junior & Leaving Certificate e.g. Junior and Leaving Certificate English & Maths. A Wide range of modules such as communications, personal development, computing, business, childcare, arts & crafts, tourism, catering, sport and leisure which are certified by the FETAC (Further Education And Training Awards Council). Intensive adult literacy and basic education, which may ultimately lead to nationally, certified programmes.