Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
240 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which she has examined non-attendance at primary schools in the greater Dublin area; the extent to which she proposes to address this issue with a view to diverting young persons away from crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30881/04]
View answer241 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which she has examined non-attendance at second level schools in the greater Dublin area; the extent to which she proposes to address this issue with a view to diverting young persons away from crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30882/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 241 together.
The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education.
During summer 2004, the National Educational Welfare Board undertook a survey on the levels of school attendance for the school year 2003-04. This was the first time that data on school attendance at national level have been collected. The findings of the survey support the targeting policy followed by the board to date in appointing educational welfare officers to the areas of greatest disadvantage and will assist it in ensuring that all available resources are utilised to the full.
My Department recently conveyed approval to the board for the filling of a further ten educational welfare officer posts, bringing the authorised staffing for the NEWB from 84 to 94. These additional posts will enable the board to roll out its services further at local level around the country.
The budget which has been allocated to the board for 2005 is €7.8 million, an increase of €1.3 million, or 20%, on the 2004 allocation. The percentage increase being allocated to the board for 2005 is more than double that for the education Vote as a whole and this provision will enable the board to continue to develop its services in 2005.
The Government's commitment to tackling early school leaving is reflected in the National Anti-Poverty Strategy, the National Action Plan Against Poverty and Social Exclusion, 2003-2005, and the latest social partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress, which contains a special initiative on tackling educational disadvantage, literacy and numeracy difficulties and early school leaving.
My Department's ongoing response to the issue of early school leaving comprises legislative measures such as the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, which established the National Educational Welfare Board as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance; curricular reforms such as the junior certificate support programme and the leaving certificate applied; and preventative interventions such as the school completion programme and the home school community liaison scheme.
