John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 543: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if 12 part-time teaching hours will be granted to the out of school component of the school completion programme for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as a matter of urgency; and if she will expedite a response to this request. [32957/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Kilkenny Individual Learning Programme is currently in receipt of funding for activities under the Kilkenny School Completion Programme. The objective of the School Completion Programme is to provide a range of in-school, after-school, out-of-school and holiday interventions in areas of disadvantage that support the retention of young people in education. The programme targets those in danger of dropping out of the education system or those who may have already dropped out. As the minimum school leaving age is 16, or the completion of three years of post-primary education, whichever is the later, students attending this out of school unit should be registered with the National Educational Welfare Board. The general functions of the NEWB are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education.

The allocation to VECs of Co-operation Hours with Other Institutions for 2006/2007 has been completed and my Department is currently undertaking a review of the allocation of teaching hours to VEC'S under the Co-Operation Hours with Other Institutions. VEC's will be invited to apply for teaching support hours for existing and new centres for the 2007/08 school year early in the new year. My Department will be in contact with the person referred to by the Deputy in relation to the procedure in relation to applying for teaching hours through the VEC for 2007/2008.