Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 1

Written Answers. - Early School Leavers.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

259 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of funds available in 1998 and 1999 to schools or other groups applying to participate in the early school leavers 8 to 15 project; the number of pupils he would hope to reach under the scheme; and whether there will be the possibility of permanent funding of selected projects if they meet their targets. [13478/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

A total of £2.96 million is being made available through 1998 and 1999 for the programme in question.

Proposed projects put forward by consortia wishing to participate in the programme are currently being examined in my Department. This process will lead to the selection of a number of individual projects which will be tested over the period of the programme. It is not possible to determine the number of pupils who may benefit under the programme until the individual projects have been selected to participate in the pilot phase.

In the longer term, it is intended that information on successful models which have been identified under the pilot scheme will be disseminated with a view to replication in other areas of disadvantage, subject to the availability of resources.