Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to expand the existing youth encounter projects and a group (details supplied) in accordance with a recommendation of the task force on student behaviour; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13513/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the task force on student behaviour in second-level schools published recently made a number of recommendations one of which was the expansion of the existing youth encounter projects and the group referred to in the Deputy's question. This expansion of existing services was recommended instead of putting in place a new service of out of school provision.

My Department currently funds five youth encounter projects, three in Dublin, one in Cork and one in Limerick. These projects cater for children between ten and 15 years of age who have either become involved in minor delinquency or are at risk of becoming involved in delinquency and have become alienated from the mainstream school system.

The other group in question provides a programme which is the national response to the needs of unqualified early school leavers in the 15 to 20 age group. This national response consists of ninety centres located nationwide. The programme provided is designed to offer courses of integrated general education, vocational training and work experience.

I have arranged for my regional offices network to compile a comprehensive list of existing alternative educational provision nationwide which the behaviour support team will analyse. Such an analysis will provide a capacity to augment existing provision where gaps exist. When this analysis is completed I will review the position regarding the need for an expansion of current provision.