Vol. 504 No. 7
363 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the opportunities open to former early school leavers in Inishowen, County Donegal, to continue their education in view of the high percentage rate referred to in a recent report on early school leavers report (details supplied); his views, if any, on suitable remedies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12761/99]
Further education options available to early school leavers generally are the vocational training opportunities scheme, and the back to education scheme of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs for persons over 21 and unemployed for over six months; Youthreach for 15-18 year olds early school leavers; senior traveller training centres for traveller early school leavers, no upper age limit; the part-time scheme for literacy and basic education run by the County Donegal Vocational Education Committee.
There may be other options available through the local area partnership or the Ireland Fund in the case of Inishowen.
My Department approved the provision of 75 additional places overall on Youthreach and Senior Traveller Training Centre programmes for early school leavers in County Donegal VEC in 1997 and 1998.
