Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Curran. Improving attendance and participation in education is a key priority for me, particularly regarding vulnerable children. The programme for Government, as the Deputy said, commits to publishing a new school completion strategy to further improve school completion rates, especially in disadvantaged areas. My Department will work closely with the Minister for Education and Skills in developing the new strategy. We will prepare it in the context of the Government programme commitment to a new action plan for educational inclusion to secure good educational outcomes for all children, especially those at risk of educational disadvantage.

The ongoing review of the DEIS programme, which targets supports to schools and students in the most disadvantaged areas, will inform the development of this strategy. I hope to progress the school completion strategy in the latter half of 2017. In the meantime, Tusla is working on improvements to the governance and operation of the school completion programme. I believe the programme is a vital response in securing improved educational outcomes for those who are at risk of early school leaving. The ESRI's report on the programme in October 2015 pointed to the effectiveness of the service but emphasised the need for organisational reforms. Tusla has been working on these in order to strengthen its operation. For example, an unemployment audit was carried out and its findings are under currently consideration. These improvements will form a valuable backdrop to a new school completion strategy. I want the strategy to recognise possible alternative provisions where students are not suited to mainstream education and we will also need to respond to the needs of children from ethnic and minority groups with low school completion rates, including the Traveller and Roma communities.

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