Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will restore the minor works grant without delay and increase the capitation grant to prior levels. [42797/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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At the launch of the Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework last November, I said that the priority in the education sector is to focus on major school projects and smaller projects devolved to schools to meet demographic demands over the next five years. I indicated that given the need to concentrate on meeting the need for additional school places that it was unlikely that funding would be available for a minor works grant in the coming years.

As the Deputy is aware, Budget 2012 provided for a cut in capitation to schools of 2% in 2012 and, following the decision to stop the withdrawal of certain legacy teaching posts, a further 1.5% adjustment was imposed this year to offset the cost of retaining those posts.

I fully acknowledge that this reduction is challenging for schools.

However, these reductions must be seen in the context of the major challenges we have as a Government in trying to shelter public services to the greatest extent that we can in these exceptional times.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been reached in respect of funding for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42812/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department has overall responsibility, under the Education Act 1998, for funding of recognised schools and does not have a separate funding stream in place to support stand alone projects such as that referred to by the Deputy.

However, my Department is currently liaising with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (to whom an approach for funding has also been made) to explore how support might be provided to the young people currently attending the project in question through the formal education system. The outcome of these deliberations will be communicated to the leader of the project in due course.

Enhancing attendance, progression, retention and attainment are central elements of DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion, which remains my Department's policy instrument to address educational disadvantage. There are 4 post primary and 18 primary schools participating in DEIS in the area referred to by the Deputy.

The School Completion Programme (SCP), with 6 projects in the Tallaght area, comprising 6 post-primary and 24 primary schools, is an important component of DEIS in targeting children and young people who are at risk of early school leaving. The programme is designed to directly target those in danger of dropping out of the education system by providing in-school, after-school, out-of-school and holiday time supports to enhance the young person's readiness to benefit from education.