Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 883: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the relevant section of her Department has taken action arising from previous parliamentary questions; if a report has been prepared indicting likely or proposed action; if each or any of the relevant sections of the three Departments with a likely responsibility have liaised with each other, or indicated their intentions; of if matters are being allowed to drift with obvious consequences. [15018/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 established the National Educational welfare board, NEWB, as the single statutory agency with responsibility for school attendance operating under the aegis of the Department of Education and Science.

The Deputy's question concerns two young people and their non-attendance at school. The responsibility for individual cases of non-attendance falls within the remit of the NEWB. In response to questions raised previously by the Deputy, concerning the same issue, I requested the NEWB to respond directly to the Deputy. I have been informed by the NEWB that correspondence relating to this matter issued to the Deputy on 30 March and a further letter updating the Deputy on the proposed action and ongoing developments in this case was issued as recently as 21 April. This Government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure every child gets 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. Work is ongoing to develop appropriate protocols for integrated working between all these services.

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 Department and the National Educational Welfare Board will continue to work together to ensure an integrated approach to children at risk is adopted.