A LOCAL initiative to counteract absenteeism and early school-leaving will be launched by the Minister for Education and Science, Micheal Martin, this Thursday. The Clondalkin (Dublin) Area Response to Absenteeism (CARA) project will provide a structure to help children stay at school in the north and south-west areas of the suburb.

Three teachers will work with project manager Kate Byrne. The project, which will be launched at Deansrath Community College in south-west Clondalkin, comprises representatives from the local VEC, the health board, TCD, the Garda, Mater Dei, Liffey Valley developers and St Vincent de Paul, as well as local schools, community organisations and parents. Teachers will transfer between primary and second-level schools as part of a system of tracking children at risk of dropping-out. To date 108 children aged between eight and 15 years have been identified through attendance records and home visits.

Cathy McSorley, education co-ordinator with Clondalkin Partnership, says: "Eight local agencies are involved in the project, and the target pupils are based in nine schools in north and south-west Clondalkin." She believes that good relationships between schools, community groups and statutory agencies has made it possible to develop this integrated initiative.