I regret that the letter referred to by the Deputy, relating to children under 15 who are out of school, was not answered. I will ensure that a reply issues immediately.
In a buoyant economy the temptations for young people to leave school early inevitably increase and the challenge for Government is to offset this by considered and effective action. Given the vital significance of school completion for the life chances of our young people, we must continue to press for improvement in the numbers completing second level. As the Deputy will be aware this is a complex and difficult issue and one not amenable to quick fix or easy solutions.
It is my view that the correct approach in dealing with this issue is to advance on a number of fronts. In the first instance we must ensure there is a proper legislative underpinning to school attendance. I see the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, as providing this. This legislation will replace and reform current school attendance legislation. The Act provides for the introduction of a comprehensive school attendance service with responsibility for school attendance being given to a newly established body – the National Educational Welfare Board. Every school will maintain a school register and will enter details of every child enrolled in the school and their attendance at that school. An educational welfare officer will be assigned to every school for the purposes of the Act. The Act requires schools to draw up school attendance strategies to promote regular attendance and to foster an appreciation of learning among the students of a school. The strategy will focus on arrangements for the identification of children who are at risk of dropping out of school at an early stage so that appropriate interventions may be put in place. The board will also assist schools in discharging their responsibilities under the Act. The Act will be implemented over a two year period.