Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a homework club (details supplied) in Dublin 8 was not granted funding under the school completion programme; if he will consider this homework club for funding in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19815/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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While my Department does not operate a specific national scheme for the provision of homework clubs, it supports a range of programmes which target additional resources at pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in order to facilitate their full participation in the education system. In assessing applications for funding, my Department gives consideration to interventions already in place and supported by my Department in the areas concerned so as to avoid duplication of effort and resource. My Department currently supports 27 schools (8 post primary and 19 primary schools) in 6 School Completion Projects in this area under DEIS, the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion. The 6 School Completion Projects receive over €1.2 million in total annually which targets approx. 1355 young people and 71 out of school students.

In addition, there are a variety of other interventions in place in these schools under DEIS such as reduced class sizes, appointment of administrative principals on lower enrolments, a range of literacy/numeracy initiatives, Free Book Grant Scheme and meal provision. The Home School Community Liaison Scheme helps to get parents involved in their children's education, which as we all know is a crucial component of convincing young people of the value of education. Additional financial resources amounting to €619,820 has been allocated to the schools in this area under DEIS. These financial supports allocated to each of the schools selected under DEIS provides for the inclusion of after school and holiday time support — for literacy and numeracy development as well as homework support, social and personal development and arts activities.

The objective of the School Completion Programme is to provide a range of interventions in areas of disadvantage that support the retention of young people in education and aims to develop local strategies to ensure maximum participation levels in the education process, entails targeting individual young people of school-going age, both in and out of school, and arranging supports to address inequalities in education access, participation and outcomes. It is based on the project model with an integrated approach involving primary and post primary schools, parents and relevant statutory, voluntary and community agencies. The programme is funded on a multi-annual basis under the National Development Plan (NDP) and up to 2007 with assistance from the European Social Fund (ESF).

A local management committee, comprising representatives of schools and other relevant agencies, manage each project. Projects are required to engage in a consultative and planning process with the school staff, with parents and with local representatives of relevant statutory, voluntary and community agencies in the development of annual retention plans. What makes the School Completion Programme unique is its 'bottom up' approach, which allows the local management committees to put together plans and supports that target the needs of local young people at risk of early school leaving. Each project employs a local Co-ordinator to run the project at local level.

A member of the National Coordination Team for SCP will make contact with the Homework Club to which the Deputy refers and with the Schools and SCP projects in the area, with a view to establishing the needs in the area with regard to homework provision.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funding opportunities currently available to community based homework clubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19817/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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While my Department does not operate a specific national scheme for the provision of homework clubs, it supports a range of programmes which target additional resources at pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in order to facilitate their full participation in the education system. In the region of €800 million will be spent by my Department this year on tackling educational disadvantage at all levels from pre-school to further and higher education. This represents an increase of nearly €70 million on the comparable 2007 figure and is testament to the Government's determination to prioritise social inclusion and ensure that all our children and young people get the supports they need to do well at school. Social Inclusion measures across all Government departments have also been prioritised under the Towards 2016 agreement, the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-16 and the National Development Plan.

In the current school year, grants totalling almost €19 million were paid to schools to meet the needs of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds under DEIS (the Action plan for Educational Inclusion). These financial supports allocated to each of the schools selected under DEIS provides for the inclusion of after school and holiday time support — for literacy and numeracy development as well as homework support, social and personal development and arts activities.

Preventative measures are also in place such as the Home School Community Liaison Scheme which helps to get parents involved in their children's education, which as we all know is a crucial component of convincing young people of the value of education. Under the School Completion Programme children at risk of early school leaving are targeted for a variety of extra supports, educational and non-educational, during and outside of school time — all aimed at encouraging them to stay in school. There are 124 School Completion projects spanning 26 counties, comprising 224 post-primary schools and 468 primary schools.

After-school activities are delivered as part of the School Completion Programme and homework clubs in particular are a widely implemented support to provide students with a structured environment to complete homework. After-School Supports provided under the School Completion Programme focus on the personal and social development of young people, aiming to enrich their overall educational experience by providing fun activities that tap into the many talents of young people. Programmes that focus on activities like Drama, Music, Art, Craftwork and Sport enable children to develop a range of creative and sporting skills. These activities help to boost self-esteem, have positive consequences for the classroom and are particularly important for academically weaker students.

A local management committee, comprising representatives of schools and other relevant agencies, manage each project. Projects are required to engage in a consultative and planning process with the school staff, with parents and with local representatives of relevant statutory, voluntary and community agencies in the development of annual retention plans. What makes the School Completion Programme unique is its 'bottom up' approach, which allows the local management committees to put together plans and supports that target the needs of local young people at risk of early school leaving.