Richard Bruton
Question:12 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff needed to provide a school attendance service nationwide on the same basis as provided in some areas. [15522/99]
Written Answers. - School Attendance Service.
The information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department.
I would point out that the Education (Welfare) Bill 1999, which will replace existing school attendance legislation does not envisage a simple extension of existing school attendance services to additional areas.
Rather, the legislation provides for a comprehensive restructuring of current services in the school attendance area. The Bill includes provision to increase the minimum school leaving age from 15 to 16 years and to establish a new national educational welfare board to co-ordinate and implement services for children in difficulty within the school system. The board will have responsibility for implementing the Bill when enacted and ensuring its objectives are met on a national basis.
Key provisions of the Bill are designed to ensure the early identification of children who have or who are likely to experience school attendance problems and the provision of assistance to these children and their families. The Bill also provides for the rights of parents to educate their children outside the recognised school system while ensuring that the rights of children to receive at least a minimum education are protected.
As is the normal procedure in these cases, the Minister for Finance and his Department were consulted on the proposals in the Bill including their resource implications, prior to Government approval for publication of the Bill. Overall the Bill, when enacted, will involve the allocation of additional resources. The precise level of service will be dictated by the level of need. It is difficult to predict with accuracy the amount of additional resources which will be required. This is one of the issues that will be decided upon at implementation stage.