James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If it is gone from the Department I can hardly influence it.

With regard to the current location of the programme, I do not have a closed mind, but it is a very important programme and one that I strongly support. Its value is very much proven. I await the ESRI report, which I hope will vindicate my sense, and that of many Deputies in the House, of its value. Education is critical for opportunities in later life and we want to encourage children to stay the course and stay in school until they reach their 18th birthday at least.

Different things appeal to different children, and this programme has been very good at identifying those interests and using them to lead children back into the education system. The Deputy may feel the programme properly belongs in the Department of Education and Skills, but I point out that learning support, mentoring programmes, personal development programmes, social programmes and out-of-school supports all sit well where they are, and there is a huge amount of combined action with Foróige and Youthreach with regard to how these children are supported in staying in school. I do not have a closed mind, as I stated, but I certainly believe the programme should continue, and it needs to be expanded to wherever it is required and needed.

This year, we had no further cuts in our services in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The reason these programmes had to be cut was the financial disaster that befell this country.

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