Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Tánaiste used the word "vital" about school completion programmes, and I believe some of the successes she outlined are due to the school completion programmes. At this point they are in the middle of a three year funding cycle, which should continue until 2016, but at their national in-service in November they were told that is not the reality.

When they were with the Department of Education and Skills and with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, their funding was ring-fenced. They are now with Tusla, and their funding is not ring-fenced. I am asking that the funding be ring-fenced and that their work with the most difficult and challenging of young people in the schools be supported. Their presence in classes also encourages the learning of the other students, so they are providing a service for the other students in those classes also because we want to make the educational experience positive for everybody.

We know the co-relationship between early school leavers, low educational attainment and our prison population. I do not believe any Government has been proactive enough on prevention. The school completion programmes are a vital tool in preventing young people from leaving and encouraging them into school. I ask that that funding be ring-fenced and the school completion programme supported.

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