Gay Mitchell
Question:49 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the Forfás proposal for raising the school leaving age to 17. [7459/98]
Written Answers. - School Leaving Age.
My Department is currently engaged in the preparation of draft legislation on school attendance. My objective is to bring heads of proposed legislation to Government in the autumn. I hope to be in a position to publish draft legislation before the end of the year.
The question of raising the school leaving age will be among the issues addressed in this legislation. While I will study the views put forward by Forfás in relation to this matter, my view at this stage is that the school leaving age should be raised to 16 years or completion of the three year junior cycle.