I move amendment No. 2:
In page 32 subsection (1)(a), line 6, after "primary" to insert "and post-primary".
The main emphasis in the debate this morning was in relation to this section and how the money in the disbursement fund should be used. The Bill provides that it is to be used to assist the personal educational and social development of persons who are economically, educationally or socially disadvantaged or persons with a disability. Then it goes on to refer in particular to "programmes or projects that are designed to assist primary school students with learning difficulties". I was interested in hearing the comments of Members that the Department of Education's responsibility would be solely with learning difficulties at primary level whereas I propose in my amendment that post primary should be included.
I was involved some time ago in a report dealing with EU funds for Dublin. That report showed that in certain areas of the city where there was social exclusion and deprivation 51% of boys and girls left school at the age of 15 and 16 years because they could not compete with their peers. I made further inquiries as a result of these figures and I found these children were supported by remedial teachers etc. in the primary cycle but when they entered the secondary cycle they were lost and consequently dropped out. Unfortunately, these children had no qualification whatsoever and the report showed that they often fell into crime and drugs.
I believe that if we have money to disburse it should be spent on the most needy in our society. I agree fully with section 41 and I have no difficulty in asking the Minister to supplement this area above what the Department of Education and Science pays. Throughout the country, as Senator Bonner mentioned, there is now an industry in tuition for children whose parents can afford it. These parents can afford special tuition for children who need extra help or even to help children cram for their exams in order to get better results. Unemployed and less well off people have not got that kind of funding. If we have funds from dormant accounts they should be used to help the less well off in our society. Money should be provided to help those our education system has lost.
The Minister has accepted that funds should be provided to help people with learning difficulties at primary level and I ask him to add post primary to that. It is a reasonable request and I hope he will have no difficulty with it. The Bill has to return to the other House for his own amendment and I hope he will include my amendment also.