Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress that has taken place in the case of two juveniles out of school without permission and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12790/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure that all children get all the opportunities and support they need to enable them to complete their education. Measures designed to improve school completion include the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board in 2002 with a remit to monitor school attendance, help parents to get a school place for their child and run promotional campaigns on the importance of regular attendance and finishing school.

In areas of disadvantage a key component of the work of the home-school-community liaison co-ordinator is promoting school attendance to parents while the school completion programme fosters the development of strong links between primary and post-primary schools to assist pupils with the transfer to and retention at second level.

This Department also supports youth encounter projects, YEPs, that provide educational facilities to young people who have become alienated from the conventional school system and is promoting increased integration between the work of second level schools and training opportunities, such as Youthreach centres, catering for young early school leavers.

The Deputy's question concerns two young people and their non-attendance at school. In response to a question raised by the Deputy last week, concerning the same issue, I requested the National Educational Welfare Board, NEWB, to respond directly to the Deputy. I have been informed by the NEWB that correspondence has been issued in relation to this matter.