Seán Haughey
Ceist:232 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give details of the early school leavers programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25954/98]
Written Answers - Early School Leavers.
A total of £3.62 million is being made available to the early school leavers initiative over the next two school years. The objective of this phase of the initiative was to select a range of strategic pilot projects in urban and rural areas of disadvantage which will develop models of good practice with a view to their integration after evaluation into mainstream policy and practice.
The initiative includes a project strand, a research strand and an evaluation/support strand. A management committee comprised of representatives of the Department of Education and Science and outside agencies has been established to oversee the operation of the initiative.
A total of 115 consortia applied for inclusion under the projects strand and each application was examined by a selection committee. Fourteen project areas were selected for inclusion in the current phase of the initiative. Nine of the selected projects focus on large urban areas. Three projects focus on provincial towns and two on rural areas. A list of the selected project areas follows.
The education research centre, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, has been selected to undertake three related pieces of research under the research strand. These include the development of a tracking template/pupil database for use in primary schools.
The evaluation support strand of the initiative will provide administrative and professional support for the overall initiative and for each of the selected projects. It will also promote the formation of networks between the project areas, develop appropriate performance indicators and reporting structures and evaluate the ongoing delivery and effectiveness of the actions undertaken.
The overall operation of the initiative will be kept under ongoing review. The question of extending the initiative will be considered in the light of experience gained with the models now being tested.
Eight to 15 year olds early school leavers initiative.
List of 14 selected pilot project areas.
Urban Consortia
Dublin
Ballymun, Dublin 11
Bonnybrook/Darndale/Priorswood/Clonshaugh, Dublin 17
Jobstown, Dublin 24
Killinarden, Dublin 24
Limerick
Rosbrien/Southill, Limerick city
St. Munchin's Parish, Limerick city
Cork
Knocknaheeny/north-west City
Mahon/Blackrock
Waterford
Ballybeg/Lisduggan, Waterford city
Towns Consortia
Ennis, County Clare
Navan, County Meath
Muirtheimhne Mór/Cox's Demesne, Dundalk
Rural Consortia
Bantry/Dunmanway, County Cork
North Kerry, County Kerry.