Written answers

Tuesday, 4 April 2006

Department of Education and Science

School Completion Programme

9:00 pm

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 519: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent of the school completion programme countrywide; if she will provide a progress report on this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13386/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 82 school completion programme, SCP, sites in 21 counties — 108 post-primary schools and 302 primary schools — with 53 second level schools in the stay in school retention strand, SSR, of the school completion programme in 17 counties, targeting approximately 23,000 young people at risk of early school leaving.

Under the new action plan for educational inclusion, DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, additional supports are being targeted at children in the most disadvantaged schools to encourage them to stay in school. The key principle of early intervention, to identify and help children at risk of early leaving school is a major component of the plan.

As a result of the identification process, 840 schools, serving communities with the highest concentrations of disadvantage, have been invited to participate in the new school support programme. These comprise 640 primary schools — 320 urban-town schools and 320 rural schools — and 200 second level schools. Letters of invitation were issued to all 840 schools in late February with a request to complete and return an acceptance form by 10 March 2006.

A total of €24.7 million has been allocated to the programme for 2006 and school completion programme services will be extended to all 320 urban-town primary schools and 200 second level schools participating in the SSP and not already benefiting from these services with additional clusters created under the school support programme during the school year 2006-07. My Department is now finalising arrangements regarding the clustering of the schools under the school support programme and schools will be notified in due course.

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