Róisín Shortall
Question:290 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the social inclusion unit within his Department including details on its programme of work, its budget and its staff complement. [19049/00]
Written Answers. - Educational Disadvantage.
The social inclusion unit was established in December 1998 to develop and co-ordinate my Department's policies and programmes aimed at tackling educational disadvantage and social exclusion. The wide-ranging work programme includes representing the Department on the interdepartmental policy committee on the national anti-poverty strategy jointly led by the Departments of the Taoiseach and Social Community and Family Affairs; national steering committee for the integrated services process and fulfilling the co-ordination role for the process on behalf of the Department; and interdepartmental policy group on the national drugs strategy to which the national drugs strategy team reports.
In addition the section co-ordinates material for the cabinet committee on social inclusion, maintains links with the national education co-ordinator for area partnerships based in area development management; prepares the Department annual NAPS report, represents the Department on the Dublin Inner City Partnership and other committees as required; acts in a liaison role for the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, acts in a liaison role in support of the work of the Minister of State with responsibility for Children, Deputy Hanafin.
The unit will also play an important role in the work of establishing and supporting the educational disadvantage committee under the terms of the Education Act, 1998.
The unit does not have a specific budget. Programme budgets to tackle educational disadvantage are channelled through the various divisions of the Department at first, second, further and third levels and youth affairs section.
The current staffing levels are: one principal officer, one assistant principal officer, one shared assistant principal officer, who has other duties in the area of youth affairs, one higher executive officer and one clerical officer. It is proposed to strengthen the staffing levels in the unit in the near future.