Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 600: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will set out an action plan for art therapy to assist pupils at risk. [9150/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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While my Department does not operate a specific national scheme for the provision of art therapy, it supports a range of programmes which target additional resources at pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to facilitate their full participation in the education system.

A total of 82 projects — 112 post-primary schools and 300 primary schools — participate in the school completion programme which aims to develop local strategies to ensure maximum participation levels in the education process. It entails targeting individual young people of school- going age, both in and out of school, and arranging supports to address inequalities in education access, participation and outcomes. Where emotional and behavioural difficulties are impeding young people's progress, the school completion programme puts in place therapeutic supports, including art, dance, play and family therapy, to assist them. Many of the supports are carried out in partnership with other community-voluntary and statutory agencies, which adds to the quality and richness of services offered to young people at risk of leaving school early.