Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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565. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the level of funding for school completion programmes (details supplied) from the years 2020 to 2025, per programme, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10784/25]

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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566. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff working for school completion programmes (details supplied) from the years 2020 to 2025, per programme, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10785/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 566 together.

The School Completion Programme (SCP) is funded by my department via Tulsa Education Support Service (TESS) and is a central element of the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme, a key policy initiative of my department to address concentrated educational disadvantage at school level, in a targeted and equitable way, across the primary and post-primary sector.

TESS have operational responsibility for the SCP, with local projects operating under the management and direction of a Local Management Committee (LMC). The LMC is responsible for the oversight of the project delivery at local level, including the use of project resources, employment of staff, and accountability for public funds.

Since my department took over responsibility for the SCP in January 2021, the programme has seen an annual increase in funding, and the total allocation for the programme for 2025 is just under €36m.

I am committed to ensuring a continued focus on tackling educational disadvantage and early school leaving , and that the needs of the children and young people participating in this programme are met.

TESS have advised of the staffing levels and funding for specific projects, as sought by the Deputy, and the tabular statement at the following link contains the information for the years requested:

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