Minister alerted to crisis in tuam school completion programme

CONTINUED cuts to funding are putting the future of Tuam’s School Completion Programme at risk. That’s according to those involved in delivering the initiative across five schools in the town.
The scheme was introduced seven years ago, but successive cuts to funding in recent years have decimated the range of programmes it can deliver to families where children are having difficulty remaining in education.
Over 200 families in three of the town’s primary schools are being supported by the scheme, while secondary school students are also benefiting from the programme that offers early intervention to those in need of support.
Berni Smyth, co-ordinator of the programme, said cuts to funding meant it was increasingly difficult to deliver activities on the ground.