Thomas P. Broughan
Question:81 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to introduce a new pilot programme to tackle early school leaving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15034/00]
Written Answers. - Early School Leavers.
A range of supports has been put in place over the past two decades to support primary and second level schools designated as disadvantaged by my Department. The supports include the payment of enhanced capitation grants. In the case of many of the designated schools, ex-quota concessionary staffing is allocated and inclusion in the home-school-community liaison scheme has been offered to all designated schools. In addition, a number of pilot projects were introduced in selected primary schools including the early start pre-school project, Breaking the Cycle and the "Support Teacher" project. At second level, curricular reform, the introduction of the junior certificate school programme, the transition year programme and the leaving certificate applied have increased the range of options that are more responsive to some young people's needs.
More recently, the eight to 15 early school leaver initiative was introduced for the school years 1998-99 and 1999-2000. Its purpose is to develop and test models of the delivery of supports for those young people who are most at risk of educational disadvantage or are outside the formal school system while still of compulsory school-going age. I have decided to provide the resources for a new phase of this initiative for the period from 1 July next until 31 August 2002 and to retain the support of the projects' co-ordinator for that period. In addition, at second level, £28.4 million will be allocated to selected schools through the "Stay in School" retention initiative, which currently involves 57 schools serving pupils and areas with higher than average levels of early school leaving. The purpose of this initiative is to prevent early school leaving and raise senior cycle completion rates. I have decided that a further 59 schools will be included in this initiative with effect from September 2000 and that a third co-ordinator will be appointed to support its development.
Furthermore, at primary level, resources in excess of £25 million will be allocated to schools over a three-year period to tackle educational disadvantage. A survey of all primary schools by the Educational Research Centre is now nearing completion. The survey is designed to identify the schools with the highest levels of concentration of pupils with "at risk" characteristics. I hope to make a further announcement on this initiative in the near future.