Ms June Tinsley:

In response to Deputy Byrne's question, I was highlighting the wide-ranging cuts to front-line education supports that have happened in recent years, such as the downscaling of the visiting teachers for Travellers scheme and the reduction in the numbers of language support teachers, resource teachers and guidance counsellors. Those front-line supports, which were available for those pupils who required them, allowed children to stay in school. The withdrawal of such supports means that children are falling behind and are more likely to leave school early. There have also been cutbacks to extra curricular activities in many schools which means that children who might have been struggling academically but doing quite well at subjects such as art or music are losing out and losing interest in school. Some schools within the DEIS scheme have been protected to some degree, which we obviously welcome but across the board, there have been changes to front-line supports and, as a result, some children have been experiencing difficulties, particularly those who are at risk of dropping out.