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Addressing an audience of education stakeholders in the Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, today, Minister for Research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock T.D. launched the report "

".

The Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013 is the European Commission-funded Education and Training Programme, which is providing €6.9bn towards exchanges and activities in these areas. It supports learning opportunities from childhood to old age in every life situation and comprises several component programmes.

The report was commissioned by Léargas, the Exchange Bureau, which administers most of the Lifelong Learning Programme in Ireland, and drawn up by management consultant Gerard M. Doyle. Its recommendations are based on a detailed analysis of the operation of mobility projects under the Programme.

Léargas wished to establish a clear picture of the impact of the learning mobility actions within the core elements of the Lifelong Learning Programme for which it has responsibility, in the light of the stated objectives of the Programme.

The report demonstrates that the Lifelong Learning Programme is highly relevant in Ireland and beneficial to vocational education and training, education in general and adult education in particular. It complements and adds value to existing national policies and initiatives by providing a unique European dimension at each stage in the lifelong learning process. Impacts on learners, teachers, trainers and education providers at all levels are significant and measurable.

Minister Sherlock recorded his appreciation of the funding provided by the Directorate-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission.

The Minister said …"I am glad to note that the conclusions of the report are so positive. I shall now oversee the implementation of its recommendations with a view to fine-tuning the Programme to make its impact even more beneficial to its participants."

The summary and full reports are available to read at www.leargas.ie