Needy children hit by school club cut
- Published: 03 September 2008
By John Walshe
Services for disadvantaged young people who are at risk of leaving school early have been cut, it was revealed last night.
Staff for breakfast clubs and homework clubs face reduced hours because of a 3pc cut in payroll costs for the School Completion Programme (SCP).
The programme employs 189 full-time staff and 566 part-time staff across 124 projects nationally, and provides supports for around 25,000 vulnerable and disadvantaged young people who are at risk of leaving school early.
A spokesperson for Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe said it was not expected that there would be any significant diminution of services or that the move would lead to job losses. He said it was hoped to achieve rationalisation and greater efficiency in the operation of the SCP projects.
Union
But the IMPACT trade union said cuts were being felt in the following regions:
- Munster -- two projects are cutting back on staff at their breakfast clubs. Cuts to staff hours will also affect out-of-school homework clubs and mentoring programmes.
- Leinster -- one project is going to have to cut breakfast clubs, homework clubs and behavioural supports; while another project will have to make cuts to counselling, attendance tracking and homework clubs.
- Dublin West -- the union has learned of plans to reduce staff hours, after-school services and an overall reduction in breakfast club services. Support teaching hours for children in mathematics are also to be cut.
- Dublin Central -- cuts are likely in psychotherapy and the Family Club which provides support for parents.
- The North East -- homework clubs, in-school supports, counselling services and individual behavioural support programmes face cuts.
Niall Weldon, chairman of IMPACT's SCP branch which represents the workers, explained: "SCP co-ordinators throughout the country face impossible choices about which services to cut in order to achieve the required savings.
"Co-ordinators have told me they'll be forced to cut homework clubs, breakfast clubs, counselling, attendance tracking and behavioural support programmes in order to meet the targets set by the department.
"The information we have received to date indicates that vulnerable children are set to lose out on a range of essential services."
