asked the Minister for Education the number of children estimated to have left school before 15 years of age in each of the last five years; if the Government has any proposals to deal with the problem of children who leave school before the legal age; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - School Leaving Age.
247.
The information requested by the Deputy, in so far as it is available is as follows:
Estimates of outflow from full time education of pupils under 15 years of age.
|
From School Year |
*Total—1st and 2nd level education |
|
1979-80 |
4,475 |
|
1980-81 |
2,616 |
|
1981-82 |
2,792 |
|
1982-83 |
2,835 |
* (It is not possible to distinguish leavers from first level by age. It has been assumed in the estimates given that all leavers from full time education in ordinary national schools are under 15 years of age.)
Data is not yet available in respect of leavers from the 1983-84 academic year. However, the report, on which the above estimates are in part based, of the 1985 school leavers survey (conducted annually by the Department of Labour) is due to be published shortly and in the circumstances I will write directly to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.
At present, in accordance with the provisions of the School Attendance Act, 1926, responsibility for enforcement of the Act in specified county boroughs and urban districts rests with school attendance committees and in all other areas the Garda Síochána are the enforcing authority.
In the Green Paper, Partners in Education, released on 11 November 1985 the provision of a general advisory and educational welfare service, which would include school attendance, is envisaged as a function of the proposed local education councils.