Richard Bruton
Question:332 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will implement the plan of Mol an Óige to extend its process of action planning to 90 schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2623/00]
Written Answers. - Mol an Óige Initiative.
The Mol an Óige – Ar Aghaidh Linn – plan was received in my Department recently. The plan is now being studied by my officials and they will be in contact with key people in Tipperary about the plan in the near future.
The Deputy will be aware of the importance that this Government and my Department attach to the issue of educational disadvantage and school retention. A range of supports for schools that are designated as serving areas of disadvantage have been put in place over recent years so that young people at risk of early school leaving can be supported and retained until they attain certification in the educational system. These supports reflect well my Department's emphasis on preventative actions and positive discrimination in favour of young people at risk.
More recently my Department announced the stay in school retention initiative at second level. The initiative will provide funding to targeted schools on the basis of plans which they will be helped to design themselves. The intention is to empower the schools themselves to tackle early school leaving. At the core of the initiative are multi-annual retention plans drawn up by the individual schools in collaboration with local statutory and voluntary agencies and agreed with my Department. The plans, which will provide for a range of in-school and out-of-school actions will address the needs of targeted young people at risk. They will specify clear targets in terms of increased retention up to the end of the senior cycle.
Fifty eight schools are participating in the first phase of the initiative and it is intended to invite a further selection of schools to participate in the second phase during 2000.
Further, in December 1999, the Taoiseach launched the New Deal – A Plan for Educational Opportunity – that entails expenditure of £194 million over the next three years on all of the major areas of education. Young people at risk of early school leaving and the schools they attend will be prioritised for inclusion in developments under this major programme.
The importance of school retention as a priority issue is clearly reflected in the national development plan. It is also a priority for the Government and for my Department that the life chances of young people are improved and their prospects of employment and meaningful participation in the various dimensions of social activity are maximised through school retention and certification.