Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to ensure greater participation of males in senior cycle in post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41358/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Improvements in the numbers of students leaving school early have been recorded in recent years. For example, the latest Retention Report published by my Department in November 2009 shows yearly improvements in second level retention rates for both male and female and it shows an increase in the numbers of boys completing Leaving Certificate within six years of entry from 73% for those who entered in 1995 to 77% for those who entered in 2001. The corresponding figures for females were 84% to 86% respectively. Similarly, the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) conducted by the Central Statistics Office shows a decrease in the proportion of male early school leavers from 18.0% in 2002 to 14.4% in 2009 while the proportion of female early school leavers decreased from 11.2% to 8.2% over the same period. My Department has adopted a broad-based approach to tackling early school leaving. Enhancing attendance, progression, retention and attainment are central elements of DEIS, the action plan for educational inclusion. Targeted interventions include the School Completion Programme, Home School Community Liaison services, additional funding for pupils at risk of early school leaving and alternative curricular options. The School Completion Programme (SCP) currently targets approximately 36,000 young people, in 124 projects across the country. The programme targets more male than female students, which reflects national trends on school completion. With this in mind, gender specific interventions have been developed to cater for the separate needs of both boys and girls. The programme places an emphasis on the development of Sports clubs as well as recreational and extra curricular activities which specifically engage the interests of boys. Officials of my Department have recently commenced discussions with the Irish Sports Council with a view to developing this work. My Department has also widened the range of curricula available to students by promoting the Junior Certificate Schools Programme, the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, and the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme in addition to the traditional Junior and Leaving Certificate curricula. I would like to assure the Deputy that we have greatly intensified our efforts in recent years to keep more young people in school and I will continue to prioritise further progress in this area.