Vol. 568 No. 1
129 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the recent statements made by the INTO relating to the delay in appointing necessary education welfare officers throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15803/03]
130 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself at the progress to date in setting up and operating the education welfare service. [15822/03]
136 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made to date with regard to the operation of the Education Welfare Board; the number of education welfare officers now in place; the number expected to be in place by the end of 2003; when he expects all areas of the country to have an education welfare officer in place; if he has now approved proposals from the Board for the recruitment of an additional cohort of education welfare officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15732/03]
156 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science the numbers of education welfare officers that are to be appointed by the National Education Welfare Board by the end of 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15806/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 130, 136 and 156 together.
The Education (Welfare) Act 2000, which is now fully commenced, established the National Educational Welfare Board as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving.
To discharge its responsibilities, the board will develop a nation-wide service that is accessible to schools, parents/guardians and others concerned with the welfare of young people. For this purpose, educational welfare officers are to be appointed and deployed throughout the country to provide a welfare-focused services to support regular school attendance and discharge the board's functions locally.
The board appointed an interim chief executive officer in August 2002 and directors of corporate services and educational services, along with three function managers, have recently taken up their posts. Five additional head office staff are in the process of being recruited. A total of 37 former school attendance officers, who were employed by local authorities under the previous legislation, were transferred to the board on 5 July 2002 in accordance with section 40 of the Act. These staff are currently providing a service in the cities of Dublin, Cork and Waterford. Of them, 25 have recently accepted the terms and conditions of employment as educational welfare officers and will henceforth be carrying out the full range of EWO duties and providing a year round service rather than the school term based service they were providing as former school attendance officers.
My Department has recently received sanction from the Department of Finance for the recruitment of an additional 36 staff by the NEWB, including regional managers, senior educational welfare officers and educational welfare officers. Advertisements were placed in the national media on 5 and 6 June. The additional cohort will bring the number of service delivery staff available to the board to almost 100 by the end of 2003.
