Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not a direct party to it but a lot of work has been done on the school completion programme. The ESRI carried out a review, as did another body. They came up with recommendations to improve it. They in no way diluted the objective or tried to roll back on what the role and purpose of the school completion programme was. We have to acknowledge that we have had a huge surge in school completion with much improved school completion numbers. They have halved over the past decade and there are fewer people dropping out so this is working. The Deputy is right. When they are in separate Departments, we must make sure there is co-ordination but I am satisfied that this is there. Noel Kelly has taken over the school completion programme. He is now working to implement improved governance, an improved standard of delivery and all those good things that will ensure that children get an excellent service.

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