Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 1

Written Answers. - Early School Leavers.

Austin Currie

Question:

408 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason no reply has issued to a letter to the Minister dated 6 October 2000 and acknowledged by his Department on 25 October 2000 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18631/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I regret that the letter referred to by the Deputy, relating to children under 15 who are out of school, was not answered. I will ensure that a reply issues immediately.

In a buoyant economy the temptations for young people to leave school early inevitably increase and the challenge for Government is to offset this by considered and effective action. Given the vital significance of school completion for the life chances of our young people, we must continue to press for improvement in the numbers completing second level. As the Deputy will be aware this is a complex and difficult issue and one not amenable to quick fix or easy solutions.

It is my view that the correct approach in dealing with this issue is to advance on a number of fronts. In the first instance we must ensure there is a proper legislative underpinning to school attendance. I see the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, as providing this. This legislation will replace and reform current school attendance legislation. The Act provides for the introduction of a comprehensive school attendance service with responsibility for school attendance being given to a newly established body – the National Educational Welfare Board. Every school will maintain a school register and will enter details of every child enrolled in the school and their attendance at that school. An educational welfare officer will be assigned to every school for the purposes of the Act. The Act requires schools to draw up school attendance strategies to promote regular attendance and to foster an appreciation of learning among the students of a school. The strategy will focus on arrangements for the identification of children who are at risk of dropping out of school at an early stage so that appropriate interventions may be put in place. The board will also assist schools in discharging their responsibilities under the Act. The Act will be implemented over a two year period.

One of the key objectives of the eight to 15 year old early school leavers initiative, which was introduced in September 1998, is to test models of response to the problem of early school leaving, with a view to the integration of such models, after structured evaluation, into mainstream policy and practice. In June 1999 the stay in school retention initiative at second level was launched. This marks a significant departure from tradit ional policy in that funding of up to £40,000 per annum is being granted to targeted schools, on the basis of plans which they were helped to design themselves. In May 2000, an additional 59 schools were invited to participate in the initiative. It is also a responsibility of my Department to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking second level places in an area. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

The National Educational Psychological Service is available to all post primary schools recognised by my Department. NEPS can advise on the management of any difficulties which pupils might experience and which may present problems in a school setting. Where appropriate it can also advise on any educational supports which might be required to ensure a pupil's time in school is as productive and positive as possible.

Question No. 409 answered with Question No. 388.