Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 117: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children who fail to make the transition from primary to secondary school annually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12973/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The specific information requested by the Deputy is not available at present. My Department operates a number of programmes at both primary and post-primary level to tackle the problem of early school leaving, such as the Giving Children an Even Break programme, the home/school/community liaison scheme and the school completion programme. Both the HSCL scheme and all 82 school completion programme projects operate transfer programmes which are very important in assisting pupils in making the transition from primary to post-primary level.

The Education Welfare Act 2000 and the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board provide a comprehensive framework for promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The funding provided for the NEWB this year represents an increase of 20% on the 2004 allocation, a clear reflection of my strong commitment to improving school attendance and addressing early school leaving.