Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 260: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will reconsider her decision to cut the funding to a project (details supplied) in Dublin 11 in view of the success of this programme to date in improving school performance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27424/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has provided funds for over thirty projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas, including the project specifically referred to by the Deputy. In the context of the budget for 2010 it was decided that funding for these projects was to be reduced from €3,643,000 in 2009 to €2,461,000 in 2010. Projects within the Dublin City area are administered by the City of Dublin Youth Services Board under the aegis of City of Dublin VEC. Within the overall allocation for the projects in Dublin City, the Board prioritised those projects where frontline staff were employed. In that context, no allocations were made to a small number of projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy.

I would point out that since 1990 my Department has funded an Initiative for Third Level Education in the same locality as the project in question. The interventions under this initiative, both financial and cultural, aim to increase educational aspirations not only in the schools but also in the wider community and to increase the participation rate of pupils from the area in third level education. My Department also provides significant levels of funding for the area in question through the School Completion Programme.