Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff

Richard Bruton

Question:

503 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of education welfare officers who are currently employed; and the number he projects that will be necessary to provide national coverage of the service. [18392/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Currently there are 36 school attendance officers employed. Section 40 of the Education (Welfare) Bill provides for the existing school attendance officers to become educational welfare officers on the commencement of this section.

The Education (Welfare) Bill provides for a nationwide educational welfare officer service for all schools. All schools can and will benefit from the service of an educational welfare officer.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Education (Welfare) Bill is currently nearing the end of the Oireachtas process and I hope that the legislation may be enacted before the summer recess. At the same time, I have asked my officials to consider the pre-planning of the service, including the number of educational welfare officers who will be required.

I accept that it is schools located in areas of disadvantage that have the most pressing needs for the service, and it is the children in those schools who are most likely to derive the greatest benefit from the service. It is, therefore, my intention, in line with policy generally within my Department, that the first priority in the deployment of the educational welfare officers will be to meet the needs of students in disadvantaged areas.