Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am involved in a project in Cork city with 30 children who have dropped out of school. We are getting €47,500 from the Department to run the centre. One of the religious orders put in €90,000 and a private enterprise is now prepared to put up €45,000 but neither Department will put in support funding.

Technically, the schools these 30 children attended are still getting the money from the Department and yet they will not take the children back. The problem is what do we do with these 30 children at the end of December. In many cases, there is no parental support for them. We are falling between two stools. This is also happening in the Dublin area where there is a similar centre to the one in Cork. The education system does not suit everyone but there is a failure among Departments to recognise that fact.