January 2002 - The Need for Increased Adult Education Provision in East Antrim

Beggs to Meet New Stormont Minister on Larne FE Needs

Ulster Unionist MLA, Roy Beggs has expressed his concern at the continuing absence of an Internet based 'Learndirect' centre in the borough of Larne. The local Assemblyman who serves on the Employment and Learning Committee at Stormont, is due to have a meeting with the new Minister, Ms Hanna about the future of further education provision in the Larne area.

Mr Beggs said, "I am greatly concerned at the continuing absence of a learndirect centre in Larne to service the wider community. I also believe that an accessible learndirect centre could play an important role in conjunction with a new Further Education Campus for Larne. There would be many advantages in having a earndirect centre in a new FE college in the town. The current absence of both is resulting in Larne being significantly disadvantaged in terms of life- long learning provision."

In a recent letter from the Head Of the University for Industry (Ufi) who co-ordinates Learndirect, Mr Beggs was advised:
"Regrettably, it was not possible to award a contract for Larne. In short, none of the bids received by Ufi were of a quality to justify selection. The LEDCOM site will continue to offer (through Acorn, the Business centre's learndirect for Business Initiative) a part time service. I have, in addition, asked a mobile provider, the Computer Gym, to provide a service in the Larne area."

Roy Beggs MLA has expressed his disappointment that none of the learndirect bids to service the wider community in Larne were deemed to be "of a quality to justify selection". The Assemblyman has subsequently met with the head of learndirect in Northern Ireland to express his concern at the lack of local provision. The issue has also been raised at Stormont when the newly appointed Minister for Employment and Learning, Carmel Hanna MLA recently made her first appearance in the front of the DEL committee.

"I have been in discussion with officials and have written to the Minister. I will be shortly taking up her offer to brief her in person on the Further education needs of the Larne area."

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