Vol. 487 No. 2
120 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the adequacy of the current approach to school attendance problems; and the plans, if any, he has for improvements in advance of new legislation in this area. [3716/98]
I am not satisfied that our traditional approach to school attendance problems provides an adequate response to today's needs. In my view, there is a need for a fundamental review of our approach to school attendance services.
My Department is currently engaged in the preparation of draft legislation to deal with the complex issues involved in non-school attendance. My objective is to bring heads of proposed legislation to Government in the autumn. I hope to be in a position to publish draft legislation before the end of the year.
A range of special interventions is already in place to support children who might otherwise be in danger of dropping out of the school system. These interventions include: the Early Start pilot pre-school programme, the disadvantaged areas scheme, the home-school-community liaison scheme, the teacher counsellor scheme, and the Breaking the Cycle of disadvantaged pilot scheme.
I am also pleased to inform the House that an important initiative, which will be targeted specifically at children in the eight to 15 year age group who have dropped out, or are in danger of dropping out of the school system, is currently being put in place.
In addition, I will shortly be holding a National Forum on Early Childhood Education to consider how services in this area can be developed for the future. I am confident that these programmes, coupled with the legislative measures which I will be bringing forward, will have a major impact on our school attendance problems.
