Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Mar 2002

Vol. 551 No. 2

Written Answers. - Early School Leavers.

Cecilia Keaveney

Ceist:

499 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to replace the stay in school initiative; the scope which new schools will have to present their case if they have not currently achieved either junior or leaving certificate students, as they are under five years in existence but may currently hold the stay in school programme due to a recognised level of deprivation or early school leaving trends in their catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the inclusivity of the replacement programme. [9836/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

In June 1999 the stay in school retention initiative at second level was launched and a total of 118 schools now participate in the initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to prevent early school leaving and raise senior cycle completion rates. A commitment was given to participating schools that they would receive funding up to 31 August 2002. Significant funding has been made available by the Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 to address the problem of early school leaving covering both first and second levels. I have provided a total of €22.5 million for school completion initiatives in 2002. This will be sufficient to facilitate a significant expansion of the initiatives in this area. Any expansion proposed will focus on areas with the greatest pupil retention difficulties. In this regard, proposals are currently under consideration in my Department and the circumstances of the schools referred to by the Deputy are also being considered in this context. I expect to be in a position to make a further announcement in relation to this matter shortly.

Question No. 500 answered with Question No. 480.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

501 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 5 February 2002, when the Ballybeg community project, St. Saviour's Parish, Ballybeg, County Waterford, will be notified of funding under the fund for children at risk scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9847/02]

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

513 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application submitted by the Ballybeg community project for funding under the early school leavers initiative; if he will examine the application as a matter of urgency as the present scheme is due to cease on 19 April 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9967/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 501 and 513 together.

An application for funding under fund for the development of targeted responses to children at risk was received from the Ballybeg Community Education Project in 2001. This fund is overseen by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Hanafin. The purpose of this fund is to develop preventative and supportive programmes that are targeted at children and young people who are at risk of educational disadvantage and social exclusion.

In assessing applications, consideration was given to Department supported interventions already in place in the areas concerned so as to avoid duplication of effort and resources. In this regard, my Department is providing support for an eight to 15 early school leaver project, ESLI, in the Ballybeg area. It was considered that there was a substantial overlap between the aims, objectives, the target group identified and the services provided under both the ESLI project and the Ballybeg Community Education Project. It was therefore decided it would be preferable to fund these projects on a joint basis. Accordingly, both projects have been requested to come together to develop a joint proposal for consideration by my Department. I have arranged for a co-ordinator to work with both groups to assist them in developing a single holistic plan that addresses the educational needs of the children at risk in the Ballybeg area. A proposal has not been received to date.