€200k to aid young troubled teens’ return to school

Young teenagers who are out of school because of behaviour or mental health issues are being helped back into education through an online teaching programme.

The Presentation Sisters’ iScoil initiative works with children aged 13 to 16 who have been out of school for at least six months, and is now to be given a funding boost by the Department of Education to help around 40 students.

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan is to set aside €200,000 in 2015 to support the programme, with plans to review the figure based on the number of students supported.