Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
374. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education the allocated funding for the school completion programme, with confirmation of whether each local management committee has indicated that the budget allocated is sufficient, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15092/25]
View answerThe 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. TESS's role includes approval of the annual Retention Plan for each project, which outlines the priority actions for the year with key measurable outcomes that activates funding.
Funding for all projects is reviewed throughout the year and where surpluses arise TESS redirects this funding to meet emerging needs as identified by the LMC’s.
My department took over responsibility for the SCP in January 2021 and since then the programme has seen an annual increase in funding, and the total allocation for the programme for 2025 is just under €36m.
In addition, my department has committed significant resources to addressing the recommendations in the 2015 and the 2025 ESRI Reports.
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.
Once the relevant funding figures for each project for 2023/24 are available from TESS, officials from my department will contact the deputy directly.
