Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 5

Written Answers - Early School Leavers.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

359 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the deadline for the elimination of the problem of early school leavers in view of the fact that 85 per cent are from disadvantaged backgrounds; and his views on whether 2002 is a viable target as indicated by the NESF. [25685/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The prevention of the effects of educational disadvantage and early school leaving and the provision of appropriate supports for young people who experience such disadvantage are priority issues for the Department of Education and Science. It is also a priority issue for this Government and, in particular, for the Cabinet sub-committee on Social Inclusion.

The Department of Education and Science has a range of supports for young people who are at risk of early school leaving. These include additional funding and ex—quota staffing for schools which are designated as serving areas of disadvantage. They also include projects and initiatives such and the early start pre-school project, the home-school-community liaison scheme, Breaking the Cycle, the teacher—counsellor project and the eight to 15 year old early school leavers' project.

The primary school curriculum caters for the flexibility which is needed for its differentiated delivery to meet the needs of individual pupils and the revised curriculum incorporates specific guidelines on meeting individual pupils' needs. At second level the junior certificate schools programme and the introduction of the transition year of alternative programmes at leaving certificate level are designed to meet pupils' needs. Additional funding, ex—quota teaching posts and liaison services are also provided in designated second level schools.

The eight to 15 year old early school leavers' initiative, which was introduced in 14 areas this autumn, aims to identify models of good practice in preventing early school leaving and in supporting young people who are already outside the formal school system. After evaluation effective models will be disseminated and integrated into mainstream policy and practice.

This Youthreach programme for unqualified early school leavers is currently being expanded by some 2,637 places in FÁS and vocational education committees. This development is supported by new guidance and psychological services and child care measures.

The related issues of educational disadvantage and early school leaving are multi-faceted in their causes and effects and early school leaving without certification is a very strong predictor of unemployment and social exclusion. Education is one of the key factors in ameliorating the effects of early school leaving but the collaborative supports of a wide range of statutory and voluntary bodies are required if the needs of children and families at risk are to be met over time. Predicting the elimination of early school leaving by any specific date is unrealistic. However, this does not diminish in any way the obligation on all staturory and voluntary bodies, including the Department of Education and Science, to redouble our efforts to deal effectively with the problem of early school leaving.