Colm Burke (Fine Gael)

I wish to raise the matter of young people who have dropped out of school. On Monday I had the pleasure of launching a website for the Cork Life Centre whereby 30 young people are being provided with education and skills training, bringing them back into the education system. In fairness, it is a religious order which has been providing the funding for this project in recent years. There are approximately 20 people working on a voluntary basis, many of them qualified teachers who cannot get employment. This year, six of the young people who dropped out of school will be sitting the leaving certificate as a result of the efforts of these volunteers.

The problem for the centre is that it is falling between a number of different Departments, including the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. It is a matter that needs to be dealt with as those providing the funding cannot provide it indefinitely. I ask that the Deputy Leader would arrange for a debate to deal with these issues. The problem arises at a number of other centres which are being set up throughout the country given young people are dropping out of the education system. I ask that a Department would take hold of this issue and make sure the proper support mechanisms are provided.