Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the National Education Welfare Board proposes to start maintaining a register of young persons in employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15281/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education.

Under the terms of the Act, any young person aged between 16 and 17 who wishes to leave school to enter employment must apply to the National Educational Welfare Board to have his or her name included in a special new register. The purpose of the register is to safeguard the educational welfare of young people who leave school early to take up employment.

Prior to registration, the board prepares a plan in consultation with the person and other relevant parties for the purpose of assisting the young person concerned to continue to avail of educational and training opportunities. When the person is registered, a certificate is issued to the young person. An employer must inspect this certificate before employing the young person. The certificate may be withdrawn where the board forms the opinion that the young person is failing to make all reasonable efforts to carry out the education plan prepared for him or her and that it would not be in the young person's best interests to continue in employment without also continuing to carry out the plan. The board is obliged to give notice in writing to the young person, his or her parents and his or her employer, of its intention to withdraw the certificate and to invite them to make representations to the board concerning the matter.