Jen Cummins
Ceist:321. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11584/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 12 February 2026
Ceisteanna (321)
Freagraí scríofa
Cork Life Centre is an out-of-school education setting which caters for young people who have disengaged from or encountered difficulties in mainstream education.
Since the 1970s out-of-school education settings, that operate outside of the traditional mainstream education system, have evolved on an ad-hoc basis. These out-of-school education settings vary in structure and design.
Children attending Cork Life Centre are included on the Section 14 register of children who are in receipt of an education in a place other than in a recognised school, maintained by Tusla’s Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service.
For several years, the State has provided support to Cork Life Centre in the form of teaching hours and a non-pay grant. The total number of co-operation hours allocated to Cork Life Centre by my department and Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation & Science via Solas/ Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) is 6,000. My department also provides an annual non-pay grant of €177,500.
The Review of Out-of-School Education Provision, published in May 2022, was a commitment under the DEIS Plan 2017. The review was an in-depth analysis of out-of-school provision and sets out a strategic policy direction for children and young people who have either disengaged, or are at risk of disengaging, from school.
An implementation group was established in October 2022 to develop a standardised framework of support for young people at risk of disengaging from education. The implementation group engaged with Cork Life Centre as part of its work.
In 2022 Cork Life Centre management requested that my department engage with it in respect of its future sustainability. In October 2022 an agreement was reached with its management to provide Cork Life Centre with recognised school status, subject to certain requirements being met.
Work is still ongoing in this regard, and my department will continue to engage with and support Cork Life Centre on the matters arising.
Question No. 322 answered with Question No. 124.
Question No. 323 answered with Question No. 124.
Question No. 324 answered with Question No. 124.