Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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608. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the level of funding allocated to the School Completion Programme in 2010, 2020 and to date in 2021. [22113/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The School Completion Programme (SCP) is a key support under Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS).

In 2010, €31m was allocated to the School Completion Programme. Subsequently the programme transferred from the Department of Education.

The SCP is one of three strands of Tusla Education Support Service (TESS), which previously came under the remit of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. 

Most recently in 2020 and up to transfer of functions effective from January 2021, the programme was funded via Tusla by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. My Department has been informed by that Department that the budget allocation for 2020 for the SCP was €24.7m.

As provided for in Budget 2021 measures, I recently announced  an additional allocation to SCP from September 2021, bringing the total allocation in 2021 to over €26 million. The increased funding in 2021 will provide for the extension of SCP to an additional 28 schools and include an overall increase in current SCP funding.