Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of early school leavers who applied for places in Youthreach programmes but were refused a place from 2006 to 2009. [23966/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Youthreach programme provides two years integrated education, training and work experience to young people aged 15-20 years who left school early without any qualifications or vocational training and are unemployed.

There are currently almost 6,000 places available nationally under the Youthreach umbrella.

Almost 3,700 of these are funded by my Department and delivered in just over 100 centres by Vocational Education Committees (VECs). The majority of the remaining 2,300 places are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and delivered by FÁS in Community Training Centres (CTCs).

The Youthreach programme funded by my Department is operated by VECs at local level. The intake in Youthreach centres commences in September each year and where applications are made during the year a waiting list is operated and places allocated as they arise. These places are generally allocated in groups. You will be aware that an additional 400 Youthreach places were allocated in 2007 and these additional places are being utilised.

As admission to Youthreach is operated at centre level the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available to my Department.