Published: Wednesday, 24th February, 2010 5:00pm

New €100k VEC learning bus launched

The Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith, officially launched the County Cavan VEC learning bus at Breifne College last Friday morning.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Smith recalled that as Minister for Children in 2008, he allocated resources from the Dormant Accounts Fund, for a number of playbus schemes and that this included €100,000 for the successful application, sponsored by County Cavan VEC. "The commissioning of this learning bus is a real milestone in the provision of adult education and children's services in Co. Cavan. For the first time, new options and opportunities will become available to communities, which will I am sure, bring many benefits and broaden many horizons. It is a marvellous mobile educational facility which is being utilised by young and old alike and is promoting adult education and children's play and services in disadvantaged and isolated areas of County Cavan," Minister Smith said.

As a converted double decker bus, the learning bus has been completely refitted for its educational purposes and is travelling to various towns and communities throughout the county, which would not normally be able to avail of such services. It has been designed to provide a venue, staff and services to foster learning in communities where facilities are either lacking or insufficient.

The facilities provided on the learning bus include: a play area with toys, games and play equipment for children, a reception area containing display space, seating and tea/coffee making facilities where parents and community groups can congregate, IT training suite with laptops, printers and flat screen TV/projector and a dedicated education guidance counselling room.

Thanking Fiona Maloney, the adult education officer, Co. Cavan VEC for the invitation to officially launch the learning bus, Minister Smith said that the VEC can be very proud of the lead role it took in applying for this funding.

"The quality of the application was first class and a most compelling case was put forward, which resulted in the successful award of €100,000," he concluded.