To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been allocated for further education colleges in the Province to provide tuition to those with (a) mental health difficulties and (b) learning disabilities in 2006-07. (83653)

The Department for Employment and Learning is unable to provide financial information in the format requested but would confirm that it has allocated total funding of £6,866,092 for the academic year 2006-07 to the FE sector in Northern Ireland towards provision for those students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used to categorise further education college courses as recreational rather than vocational. (83654)

When the course of study is identified by the further education colleges as not examined, or not leading to a qualification, it is categorised by the Department as “non-specified, non-examinable” and generally viewed as a hobby and leisure/recreational course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to withdraw funding to further education colleges in the Province for tuition of those with (a) mental health difficulties and (b) learning difficulties. (83729)

The Department for Employment and Learning has no plans to withdraw funding to further education colleges in Northern Ireland for tuition for those students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been allocated to further education colleges in the Province for tuition of those with (a) mental health difficulties and (b) learning disability in each of the last five years. (83730)

The Department for Employment and Learning is unable to provide financial information in the format requested but would confirm that the total funding provided to the FE sector in Northern Ireland towards provision for those students with learning difficulties and disabilities in the last five years was as follows: