Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The school completion programme has been one of the successes in the past few years. Retention rates among students from disadvantaged backgrounds are on the increase all the time, mainly due to the support staff in place. However, it is due not only to the teachers in communities but also the funding put in place. The programme has been directed at communities which traditionally have had high school dropout rates. It interacts not only with students but also includes home visits to parents, engages with students during school breaks and includes a number of after-school programmes. School is made more welcoming for students at risk of dropping out.

An examination of the figures shows that higher educational disadvantage levels and school dropout rates have huge social and economic consequences for communities. The number of children living in poverty is on the increase. Approximately 750,000 children live in poverty. The school completion programme is one of the supports which has been put in place to help students to achieve their educational potential and has been a success to date. However, it can only continue to be a success if funding is put in place and maintained. Schools are working on a year-to-year basis; they do not have multi-annual funding, which has an impact on schools.

I implore the Minister to examine the school completion programme which has been moved to his portfolio. It has been a success and has the potential to keep more students in school and give them the tools they need to achieve their educational potential.

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