Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 6

Written Answers. - School Attendance Service.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

336 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education if she has received, from Dún Laoghaire Corporation, a proposal which would enable the Blackrock School Attendance Officer to function in the Dún Laoghaire School attendance area which includes Ballybrack and Loughlinstown; the reason she has refused to sanction the proposal; and the reason she has not yet responded to the request for information regarding her intention for the school attendance service in the Dún Laoghaire, Rathdown, area.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Under the School Attendance Acts approval of the appointment of School Attendance Officers and provision for their remuneration are matters for the appropriate council of the county borough, in the case in question Dun Laoghaire Corporation. The Minister for Education merely sanctions such appointments and the level of remuneration. The deployment of School Attendance Officers is a matter for School Attendance Committees.

Having given careful consideration to it, I regard the proposal from Dun Laoghaire Corporation that an allowance be paid to a school attendance officer to provide a limited service to an area where there is a vacancy for a school attendance officer as inappropriate.

Were Dún Laoghaire Corporation to propose the appointment of an officer to fill the current vacancy I would be happy to sanction an appointment. It would however be a matter for the Corporation to fund the post.