Press Conference : Ireland vs Italy - Dublin, 17th August 2005

 

Fingal leads international initiative on tackling early school leaving

At a press conference on Wednesday August 17th, Fingal County Council convened a gathering of national and international figures to draw attention to an initiative to help address the problem of early school leaving. The initiative, known as ESPAIR, is a pilot promoted by the European Commission and supported by UNICEF, and is aimed at looking at ways in which sporting activity can serve as an incentive to young people to continue with their education. Fingal County Council represents the Irish interest in the multi-national initiative. At the end of the two-year lifetime of the project, a report will be submitted to the European Commission to influence the delivery of education in the Member States.

Amongst the contributors at the press conference were Cllr. Joan Maher, Cathaoirleach of Fingal County Council, John Tierney, County Manager, John Delaney, C.E.O of the Football Association of Ireland, Dr. Sergio Di Cesare, President of the Italian Football Federation, His Excellency Alberto Schepisi, Italian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Alessandro Pinto, Senior Officer of UNICEF Italy, Dr. Antonino Viti of the Associazione Centri  Sportivi Italiani, Dr. Franco Alvaro, General Coordinator of Espair Project - Socrates Programme Action 6.1.2 and Ray Houghton, former Irish International footballer.

The various speakers lauded the initiative and emphasised the importance of finding new and creative ways of encouraging youngsters to stay in school. John Tierney outlined the specific provisions that Fingal County Council has made for the development of Sports and Recreation facilities in the County over the next three years. John Delaney explained how the F.A.I.’s Technical Development Plan has placed special emphasis on targeting areas of particular social needs and working in tandem with State Agencies, where opportunities present themselves. In this regard, he warmly welcomed Fingal County Council’s decision to co-fund the employment of three additional F.A.I. Regional Development Officers for the county and expressed the hope that other local authorities might follow suit.

Ray Houghton, as well as drawing smiles from the Italian dignitaries and press representatives because of his role in the historic World Cup game in 1994, spoke from his perspective as a former professional player. He had seen too often, he stated, the consequences of youngsters ignoring their education in the hope of making a professional career in sport. It is only too late, he said, that they come to realise the need to have continued also with their schooling. He went on to implore young people with sporting promise not to lose sight also of the benefits of having a rounded education. He, accordingly, said that he welcomed any initiative that would help youngsters, whether or not they possessed sporting potential, from ending up on the scrap heap.

In order to take advantage of that evening’s friendly International between Ireland and Italy, the attendance was told of the decision of the two Associations to highlight the initiative by having both teams wear specially-designed sweatshirts in the warm-up to the game. The sweatshirts bore the logos of Fingal County Council, UNICEF, the European Commission’s Socrates Programme, as well as the address of a new website www.schooldropout.org which details the ESPAIR initiative.

As a concrete example of multi-Agency and sports-related collaboration to address the needs of young people at risk, John Tierney set out what steps are being taken in Corduff, Dublin 15. Within the €3 million complex currently under construction, a number of F.A.I.– run programmes and activities will take place. The sweatshirts worn by both sets of players before the game will be donated to the young people of Corduff and will be used to launch the project

 

His Excellency Alberto Schepisi Italian Ambassador to Ireland	Cllr. Joan Maher Cathaoirleach of Fingal County Council	Mr. John Tierney Fingal County Manager
Mr. Franco Alvaro Espair Project General Coordinator	Mr. Ray Houghton Former Irish International Footballer	Mr. Antonino Viti President of the ACSI
Mr. Sergio Di Cesare In behalf of the President of the Italian Football Federation	Mr. Alessandro Pinto Senior Officer of UNICEF Italy	Mr. John Delaney C.E.O of the Football Association of Ireland