The Taoiseach must keep his promise to correct employment and governance structures for School Completion Programme (SCP) staff, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins.
Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s Education spokesperson, said:
“Today’s ESRI report, the second of its kind, has been welcomed by School Completion Programme (SCP) workers around the country – 783 schools with students at risk of leaving school early take part in the programme.
“However, we must keep the pressure on the government to implement the employment and governance structures which have been promised since 2012, essential measures to achieve parity and fairness for those in the sector.
“During his maiden speech in June 2020, Micheál Martin said that this would be treated as a matter of urgency, that it was one of his top priorities.
“We’re now in March 2025 and nothing has happened.
“The School Completion Programme is not broken, nor is the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme – what’s wrong with them is the fact that they’re being neglected.
“The government needs to comprehensively invest, resource and staff these programmes – cutbacks have never been restored from the austerity era, and pay must be adjusted to match inflation.
“The DEIS Plus scheme must also be finalised as soon as possible as schools cannot wait any longer for increased support.
“As a previous school completion coordinator for almost 18 years, I welcome the ESRI’s continued SCP research – it shows how valued it is by our school community, youth workers and other agencies, statutory and voluntary.
“I urge the government to finally implement these changes, which would put workers on an equal footing with equivalent TUSLA and Department of Education staff.
“It is not fair that SCP staff are the most vulnerable staff members in the TESS structure, who in turn are working with the most vulnerable children in our education system.”
March 4th, 2025