Written answers

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

Department of Education and Skills

Education Schemes

9:00 pm

Photo of Sandra McLellanSandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to help teen parents complete their second level education. [9851/11]

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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While current figures on the number of teen parents in second level are not readily available, the most recent statistics available indicate 2223 teen births in 2009. Of these, 1201 were to mothers aged 18 years or younger.

For young parents of school-going age, the most pressing issues are considered to be a sensitive response to their needs, appropriate counselling/ mentoring and medical assistance, minimal disruption of tuition, and appropriate access to childcare. Individual circumstances will differ and accordingly, school management practice will vary from case to case. Generally, when it comes to the attention of the school that a pupil is pregnant, the school authorities check to ensure that the pupil is receiving appropriate medical assistance and counselling advice. Schools endeavour to be sensitive and understanding to the pupil's needs while trying to ensure that her education is not neglected.

Home tuition is provided to pregnant schoolgirls who are absent from school during the latter stages of pregnancy or immediately following the birth of a baby when attendance may be impractical. In 2009/10, home tuition was approved for 63 pregnant girls attending post primary schools.

Funding was been provided by my Department in 2010/11 for the educational element of 8 Teenage Parenting Support projects as a specific gender element of the School Completion Programme under DEIS in preventing early school leaving among teenage mothers and fathers. These are as follows: 1. Carlow Teen Parenting Programme2. Cork Teen Parenting Programme3. Donegal Teen Parenting Programme4. Barnardos Teen Parenting Programme5. Coolock Teen Parenting Programme6. Galway Teen Parenting Programme7. Limerick Teen Parenting Programme8. Louth Teen Parenting Programme

Funding was also provided to Waterford Student Mothers Project in 2010/11.

In 2009, 485 young parents were referred to the Teen Parenting Support Programme (TPSP). This included 441 young mothers. It also includes 35 young fathers who are supported independently from the mother of the child.

Each Teenage Parenting Support project has made links with a School Completion Programme in their area, assisted by the SCP National Coordination Team and the Teenage Parenting Support Initiative Coordinators. The young parents supported by the Teenage Parenting Projects are given the opportunity to reach their full potential through continued participation in education and training. This will improve their life opportunities and reduce the likelihood of the young family experiencing poverty and social exclusion and being long-term dependants on state support. Furthermore, my Department is represented on the National Advisory Committee- Teen Parents Support Initiative which meets twice a year.

An analysis by the Teen Parents Support Programme of 1349 young mothers who engaged with TPSP between mid 2005 and 2008 shows that, at the time of referral, 46% (623) were in education/ training. Of these, 65% were in second level schools. A further 339 were early school leavers. Data on the relationship between pregnancy and early school leaving was collected on 217 of the above 339 early school leavers. It showed that 50% of the young women were still in school at the beginning of their pregnancy. Of these, 98 left during the pregnancy and 10 left after the birth of their children. This demonstrates the importance of supporting pregnant and/ or parenting teens to remain within the school system.

Between 2005 and 2008, 61% of all mothers who had not completed their Leaving Certificate received education-related supports from TPSP staff. This refers to mothers both in and out of education and includes 294 young mothers who received financial support through the School Completion Programme.

Data collected on 262 of the 339 early school leavers shows that during 30 months of engagement with TPSP, 21% (56) returned to education or training and 19 of these 56 young mothers received financial support from the School Completion Programme. Under the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme administered by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, there is a tiered system of payments in place for parents in receipt of Social Welfare. The scheme allows eligible parents, including teenagers completing their second level education, to access reduced childcare costs at community childcare services participating in the scheme. Parents who are secondary school students are granted Band A status which means that the childcare provider will get a maximum subsidy of €100 per child (€130 for a baby) for a full time place.

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