Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of pupils who left the education system with no formal qualifications in the most recent year for which statistics are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3689/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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From the latest information provided by the post-primary pupil database it is estimated that just over 3,000 pupils left full-time education without a junior certificate in second level schools aided by this Department between October 2003 and June 2004. It should be remembered that many of those who leave school without a formal qualification proceed to various other education and training programmes, including Youthreach, as well as to pursue educational opportunities outside the State in the case of students who emigrated with their families.

Data from the Central Statistics Office highlight the inadequacy of any assumption that considering only what qualifications young people get in the formal school system gives one a fair picture of their level of educational achievement.

CSO figures indicate that the number of persons aged 20 to 24 who had attained at least a leaving certificate or equivalent level of education or training increased between 1999 and 2004. This growth reflects the increasing numbers of students now participating in second chance further education and training programmes. The level of educational attainment of Irish young people is ahead of the EU average on that measure.

My Department has taken a number of initiatives in recent years to encourage more of our young people to finish school, including the setting up of the National Educational Welfare Board and the provision of extra supports for those at risk of dropping out through the school completion programme and home school community liaison scheme. Also, under the new action plan for educational inclusion, the DEIS initiative, which I launched last May, further resources are being provided to schools serving the most disadvantaged communities to help them to improve their retention rates.

The Government has pursued a dual strategy of both encouraging more young people to finish school and ensuring much greater second chance and further education opportunities for those who left school early. This kind of strategy seeks to ensure that young people can achieve their full potential, be that by sitting the State exams or by pursuing qualifications through other pathways such as FÁS apprenticeships which may be more appropriate to their individual interests.