Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has raised the issue of cutbacks to the School Completion Programme in the Dáil and detailed the disastrous impact these cutbacks are having on pupils, particularly those coming from disadvantage backgrounds.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Over the last six years there has been a 33% cut in school completion programmes across the State. In rural and urban areas those schools are now asking for a halt to those cuts.

“For 6 months I have been lobbied by a number of schools in my constituency recently, including St. Mark’s, St. Maelruain’s and St. Dominic’s, as well as others in Old Bawn, East Tallaght, Killinarden, Brookfield, Fettercairn and Jobstown.

“A simple wall chart graphically outlines all the different aspects of their programmes but one could see that after six years those programmes had been gutted, filleted, and cast aside by financial cuts to their services.

“Schools are saying that the programme has worked but the cuts have to stop.

“The financial cuts are affecting the most marginalised students and their families. On 2 September the message coming from the Minister’s new agency, Tusla, was more cuts.

Crowe continued:

“Talk of lifelong learning is cheap but action is really important. Every euro taken from these programmes is a huge loss to society and a kick in the teeth for marginalised communities.

“In real terms, it will mean fewer people attending third level education. Recent CSO figures showed that in Dublin 24 some 16% of school students continue onto third-level education, whereas literally down the road in Dublin 6 some 99% of students continue to third level. That is the sort of divide that exists in our society.

“It literally comes down to the fact that if children leave school early they have nowhere to go. They will certainly not go into well paid jobs. Many of them will be hanging around street corners while some will get involved in drug dealing and other criminal activity.

“It makes sense to provide supports and encouragement to students to stay on in school and upskill.

“The OECD has reported that 93% of young people complete second-level education in Ireland compared to the OECD average of 84%. People around the world are examining the Irish model, so what have we got right? We are literally filleting it and tearing it up.

“I’m calling on the Minister to change direction and stop the unacceptable cuts to this programme.”

ENDS