Education minister to launch forum on disadvantage

The Minister for Education and Science Noel Dempsey will today launch a week-long forum on disadvantage in primary education.

The forum, which takes place in St Patrick's College in Drumcondra, will examine the problem of early school-leaving in Ireland.

It is estimated that up to 1,000 Irish primary school children will not make the transition to secondary schools this year.

More than 500 delegates, including teachers, government workers and community workers, will attend the conference.