Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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388. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of restoring the school completion programme to peak levels of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14866/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the National Educational Welfare Board which included the School Completion Programme was transferred to my Department on its establishment in 2011.

Upon the establishment of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency on January 1st 2014, operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme was transferred to the Agency.

The School Completion Programmes are funded in line with the academic year commencing in September each year. The funding available to the School Completion Programme for the school year 2017/2018 stands at €24.756m. An increase in funding of €6.24m per annum would be required to bring funding levels back to the pre 2011 funding level which stood at €31m.