I am aware that the difficult situation in which the Cork Life Centre finds itself in arises from the decision of the Christian Brothers to withdrawal financial support. The resources provided by my Department to this Centre in 2014 include 968 teacher co-operation hours, provided under the Co-operation Hours Scheme operated by the local Education and Training Board (ETB), and non-pay funding of €47,500. This Government is committed to addressing educational disadvantage and while services such as this centre meet a particular demand, it is also important to reflect on the significant additional targeted resources which are deployed for the purpose of combating educational disadvantage and early school leaving. These include intensive literacy and numeracy programmes, out-of-school, after school and holiday time supports as well as special needs supports provided to assist young people at risk. It should be noted that there has been a substantial expansion of these initiatives since the establishment of this facility by the Christian Brothers in 1996. The major budgetary pressures within my Department place significant constraints on its capacity to support existing programmes and, consequently, given the significant range of educational disadvantage interventions already supported by my Department, there is no scope to meet a request for addition funding for this organisation beyond the level of support currently allocated. The Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency which has a statutory remit in relation to school attendance, can provide assistance to parents or guardians in finding appropriate educational placements for all children including those currently in the centre which is the subject of this question.
