The School Completion Programme provides supports for young people who are at risk of leaving school early, especially before the Junior or Leaving Cert. The programme includes in-school supports such as one-to--one mentoring, reading and an early-bird club.

Alan Shatter, Fine Gael’s Spokesman on Children, expressed sharp criticism of the proposed decrease in funding:

“In the current economic climate the Government, in implementing cutbacks, needs to differentiate between services that are essential and those that are not. It should not simply engage in a crash and burn approach which implements overall reductions across a broad range of sectors indiscriminately.”

“There are services in particular areas which need not only to be sustained but to be developed. The Government must apply sound judgement to the actions it takes. The proposed 3% cutback on services for vulnerable and disadvantaged children is a classic example of a failure of judgement. This particular scheme should be expanded, not cut back...

“The Department of Education and Science acknowledges in its implementation of the School Completion Programme that statistically, early school leavers are more likely to experience social exclusion and unemployment or under-employment...

“Apart from the ... social need to bolster and not reduce such services, the State has a selfish economic interest in ensuring that vulnerable young people receive any additional educational supports required to facilitate their entering into the job market and making a contribution for the benefit of themselves and society generally, rather than becoming a charge on the State through the social welfare system,” Mr. Shatter said.