My Department does not have data on the number of second level students taking up part-time jobs during the school week. I share the Deputy's concern about non-school attendance, caused by whatever reason. Due to the link between non-school attendance and early school leaving, my Department has initiated a programme comprising both legislative measures and special targeted initiatives to combat the problem of non-school attendance and early school leaving.
The recently enacted Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, replaced and reformed current school attendance legislation. It 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. Its focus will be the provision of assistance and support, through locally based educational welfare officers, to schools and families rather than on penalties for non-attendance at school. The Act also includes specific measures for the early identification and support of children at risk of dropping out of school.
It provides measures designed specifically with early school leavers in mind. Section 29 provides that a young person – in most cases 16 and 17 year olds – may register with the National Educational Welfare Board if he or she leaves school before the 18th birthday. The board will then, following consultation with the young person, parents and others, prepare a plan for his or her continuing education and training. Once that is done the board will issue a certificate to the young person concerned. In addition, the Act provides that an employer cannot employ a young person unless he or she is the holder of a valid certificate. An employer is also obliged to inform the board within a month after a young person has been employed. The Act provides significant penalties for employers who breach these provisions. The overall thrust of the provisions is to place meaningful restrictions on the process whereby young people, who are encouraged by an immediate earning potential, to leave education and training and take up often low-skill work. The provisions do not prevent young people taking up employment but seek to ensure that a balance is struck between their employment rights and their future educational, training and social needs. My Department is in the process of implementing the Act.