Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

Yesterday the Minister for Education and Science launched the National Educational Welfare Board and during his address at the launch he stated that he was amazed by the high drop out rate of 18% from second level and the thousands leaving school at primary level. It is unbelievable that a Minister who has declared his interest in providing greater access for the disadvantaged to education and in retaining them in education has only provided half the resources necessary in the Estimates –€6 million – for the efficient and effective running of that board.