Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Students are disengaging from school or dropping out in first or second year for various social reasons - for instance, some pupils are not academic. Those who are lost in the system are going down a cul-de-sac and have nowhere to go. We know the consequences of that. They can find themselves in an undesirable situation, which can pose huge problems for families and communities. I am not condemning anyone as such because they are victims, perhaps, of our system. It is time to grasp the nettle. I understand the Minister's explanation but the percentages and statistics I have been given are alarming. Will the Minister review the matter? We can look to the European systems, which are very successful. Employers are looking for matching skills. If these people could come out of our education system at 18 or 19 years of age with sufficient training, this is something we cannot ignore.

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