Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the examination of additional supports to groups working with early school leavers that has taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39408/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy may be aware, policy for school attendance, participation and retention comes within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a number of commitments in relation to school attendance and completion, including the one referred to by the Deputy in relation to early school leavers.

Officials of my Department will engage with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Tusla in any examination of this policy area, and are already committed to working with them on the development of a new School Completion Strategy, which is also a Programme for Government commitment.

My Department has a number of schemes to support young people who have left school early in their continuing engagement with education. These include Youthreach which is an education and training programme targeting in particular those between 16 and 20 years of age who have left the mainstream school system with poor qualifications or none. The Youthreach programme is operated by Education and Training Boards with funding provided by my Department through SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority.