Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total unit cost for the provision of education in alternative education settings within the State, excluding Youthreach provision; how this compares to the total unit cost for the provision of education in traditional mainstream education settings; the level of additional onsite supports, such as counselling for students, within alternative education settings compared to traditional mainstream education settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43815/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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While my Department primarily supports mainstream schools, it also provides funding for a small number of alternative education settings that provide education for a small cohort of children and young people, who for various reasons, have disengaged from mainstream education.

This provision is an alternative, when all other supports, options and pathways have been tried and have not proved successful in maintaining the young person’s engagement with mainstream education. These settings vary in structure and design and children and young people are referred from a range of sources including the Education Welfare Service, the child or young person’s mainstream school and parents or guardians.

In 2023, my Department provided the following funding to alternative education settings:

It is not possible to provide a total unit cost for the provision of education in these alternative education settings as many have additional funding sources.

In addition to the above , there are 5 Youth Encounter Projects, located in Dublin (3), Cork (1) and Limerick (1). Youth Encounter Projects are recognised primary special schools by my Department and cater for up to 25 children and young people who have disengaged from mainstream education.