David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

225. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 322 of 27 January 2015, when he expects the review of the school completion programme to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16275/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The School Completion Programme aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve the school attendance, participation and retention of young people who are risk of educational disadvantage. The programme is a targeted intervention aimed at school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills' DEIS Action Plan for Educational Inclusion. It provides targeted supports annually to approximately 36,000 children.

Since 1 January 2014, the Child and Family Agency has operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme. The review of the School Completion Programme, being undertaken by the ESRI, is almost finalised. The objectives of the review are to examine the programme's structures, clarify roles and responsibilities, to analyse the interventions and supports provided and identify best practice and make recommendations for the future of the programme. The review of the School Completion Programme is an important initiative in planning for the future development of the programme.

It is anticipated that the review will be completed during the current academic year.