Educational disadvantage initiatives are failing to improve literacy standards, reduce high absenteeism rates and include sufficient numbers of children in school completion programmes according to a report by Comptroller and Auditor General John Purcell.
Central to the report is the emphasis on the need for greater co-ordination and a "joined-up" approach between schools, the National Educational Welfare Board, the Health Service Executive and the National Educational Psychological Service.
The board, which was established to ensure that every child regularly attends school, drew particular criticism from Mr Purcell who noted that the board was failing to provide a "comprehensive service" to schools.
The board, which is obliged under legislation to take action over every child missing school for more than 20 days, has yet to deliver on its mandate to the satisfaction of schools, according to the report, which examined educational disadvantage initiatives in the primary school sector. Schools surveyed were unhappy with the level of contact with the board's educational welfare officer, and dissatisfied with the action taken in cases of chronic absenteeism.
Schools complained that the fear of legal sanction is dissipating because there are no obvious consequences for children's non-attendance in school.
The report notes that the board has not managed to address chronic cases of non-attendance, early intervention, prevention strategies and the 16- and 17-year-olds who leave school early to take up employment.
Recent statistics suggest that about one in four pupils in disadvantaged schools were absent for 20 days or more during the school term. Initiatives aimed at improving the State's low literacy levels among children and young adults in disadvantaged areas are having little impact, according to the report.
"Bearing in mind the resources applied through the various disadvantage initiatives and the general increase in recent years in the financial allocations to the primary sector, it is disappointing that reading standards in designated disadvantaged schools have not improved," the report stated.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin broadly welcomed yesterday's report, adding that it had highlighted many of the "issues and concerns" prioritised by her department.
She said, however, that the new action plan for educational inclusion, known as DEIS, is now targeting 875 schools most in need of support countrywide.