I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 60, 67, 69, 74, 94, 98 and 99 together.
I assure the Deputies that I share the concerns which they have highlighted in relation to the problem of non-school attendance. I am aware of the findings of the study in west Dublin to which a number of Deputies referred. These findings give sharp focus to the extent of the problem and the need for firm corrective action. My Department is currently working on draft legislation to deal with the complex issues involved in non-school attendance. My objective is to bring the heads of proposed legislation to Government before the end of April 1998. I also hope to be in a position to publish draft legislation by the middle of 1998.
I confirm that the range of issues raised by Deputies — including an integrated education and welfare service and the expansion and rationalisation of the school attendance areas — are under active consideration in the context of the preparation of the draft legislation.
I should mention that significant measures are already in place to address the issues of truancy and early school leaving. These include: pre-school services, including early start, remedial services; the home-school-community liaison service; the teaching counsellor scheme; youth encounter projects; the breaking the cycle project and the disadvantaged areas scheme. I am currently reviewing provision in all these areas to ensure that available resources are targeted to maximum effect.
Curricular reforms such as the junior certificate elementary programme, the leaving certificate vocational programme and the leaving certificate applied programme are also designed to encourage and improve retention rates.