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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 3

Written Answers - School Attendance.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

202 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Science when the new school attendance legislation will be introduced in view of the fact that there are historically two different school attendance systems in the Ballymun area, Dublin 11, which continue to cause difficulties and lead to problems in the operation of the new early school leavers initiative; if he will clarify the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25148/98]

I am fully aware of the problems raised by Deputy Ahern which serve to highlight the inadequacies of current arrangements in relation to school attendance. Under new legislation, which is currently being drafted and will be enacted in 1999, I will be bringing forward a comprehensive range of measures to address the problem of non-school attendance. Among my key objectives is the establishment of a single national authority with responsibility for school attendance on a country-wide basis. The legislation will also include specific measures for the early identification and support of children at risk of dropping out of the school system. I am confident that these new measures will eliminate the fragmented nature of current approaches to the problem of early school leaving.

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