Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 421: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will reinstate funding to a school (details supplied) in Tallaght, Dublin 24, under the school support programme, which has been successful in the college; if she will note the concern of the school community that this funding has been withdrawn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18359/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funds for over thirty projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas, including the project specifically referred to by the Deputy. The projects are mainly administered by the three VECs in Dublin City, Dublin County and in Dún Laoghaire.

In the context of the budget for 2010 and the difficult fiscal climate, it was decided that funding for these projects was to be reduced from €3,643,000 in 2009 to €2,461,000 in 2010. While the overall Departmental reduction in the 2010 allocation is 32%, it was a matter for the VECs to prioritise funding for individual projects within the allocation provided. In that context, it is understood that the project at the school in question will cease operation at the end of the current school year.

It is important to note that the school in question is included in DEIS, the Department's action plan for educational inclusion which provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). The supports for schools include: - additional capitation funding based on levels of disadvantage; - additional funding for school books; - access to the School Meals Programme; - access to Home School Community Liaison with one Full time HSCL Coordinator appointed to this school; - access to the School Completion Programme - in the region of €327,000 was allocated to the SCP project, which includes this school and two primary schools. SCP Projects must devise a collaborative programme of in-school, after-school and holiday-time interventions that will prevent early school leaving and support young people with characteristics and behaviour that are indicative of real risk. Each project employs a local Coordinator to run the project at local level; - enhanced guidance counselling provision; - access to planning supports; - provision for a school library and librarian support in post primary schools with most disadvantage; - access to the Junior Certificate School Programme and Leaving Certificate Applied; - access to a range of professional development supports.