Vol. 502 No. 3
72 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science the additional places on education programmes he plans to put in place in order to ensure resources are available for compulsory attendance at school or training for all those aged up to 18 years. [8170/99]
Notwithstanding the wide range of strategies in place to improve retention rates within education to completion of senior cycle education, I am concerned that the growth in employment opportunities may be encouraging young people to mortgage their futures by leaving school early with inadequate qualifications in order to enter work. Accordingly, in the context of the forthcoming school attendance legislation, I am examining the feasibility of enabling legislation to ensure that all under 18s have access to some form of education or training provision, in line with many of our European counterparts. I am also examining the implications of any such provision.
Funding has been provided in 1999 for the piloting of part-time PLC, VTOs and Youthreach places, and a working group is being established to make recommendations on the implementation of the initiative. Increasing the flexibility of the system will play a key role in enabling young people as well as adults to combine the attainment of education and training qualifications with work and family responsibilities.
