Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and congratulate him on his recent appointment. I do not think I have had an opportunity to do so publicly before now. Last Thursday evening, I attended a meeting with the dedicated people who are involved in school completion programmes in the Dundalk and Drogheda areas of County Louth. We all know about the fantastic service these vital programmes give to children who would otherwise be at risk of dropping out of education. As a former teacher, I have actively witnessed the huge benefit of school completion programmes. Indeed, I attended a summer literacy course that was offered at a national school in the Dundalk area and witnessed the valuable work that was being done there. I commend all involved. The attendance at last Thursday's meeting, which took place at the same time as a huge World Cup match, demonstrated the dedication of the people and how deeply they feel about the whole idea of school completion programmes.

I wish to ask the Minister about the letter they received signalling a proposed cut of 6.5%. In the past five years there have been immense cuts to the school completion programme. We see the importance of DEIS schooling, which is apparent from the recent press statement from the Minister on how DEIS is working and how school completion programmes are helping to assist young people to stay at school. Approximately 1,136 pupils are targeted in the Louth area for the school completion programme, which is vital for them.

I understand the Child and Family Agency has not yet finalised its proposals for funding of school completion programmes. The co-ordinators and educational partners are right to push the issue before it is too late and the proposals are finalised. I contacted the Minister’s office last week, following receipt of the invitation to the meeting, as that was one of the proposals signalled.

If we deal with the situation early and examine the effect of the proposed cuts, the matter can be addressed. I am aware that once the proposal for funding is finalised by the Child and Family Agency, the school completion programmes will then formulate their retention plan or service plan. We have time to address the issue before programmes will be asked to further scale back their services and children are adversely affected, which is what will happen. The valuable after-school, in-school and holiday work that is done will all be affected.

I understand the ESRI is undertaking a review of the entire school completion programme. Will the Minister provide an update on it and when it is expected to be published? I would also appreciate if he would please outline the future policy for school completion programmes and the engagement he had to date with the providers on the issue.

I appreciate there are many considerations and decisions. Those who work in the school completion programme fully understand that cuts had to be made but they must be weighed. I wish to highlight the matter at an early stage when we have time to address the issue before it becomes a much larger problem. We must ensure that we protect DEIS initiatives to provide the best outcomes for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

One point made at the meeting last week is that it costs an average of €90,000 to keep someone in prison. It has been proven that school completion programmes assist in keeping people out of prison. One must take into account the money that we will save in the long run if we invest the money in children and education.