Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2014
856. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps has he taken to provide an education welfare officer for the Dublin 15 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29303/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the functions and operational responsibilities of the former National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) are now part of the Child and Family Agency, which was established on 1 January 2014. Since this date the staff of the former NEWB, including its Education Welfare Officers (EWOs), have transferred to the new Agency. The three service strands formerly under the remit of NEWB – the statutory Educational Welfare Service and the school support programme services (Home-School Community Liaison Scheme and the School Completion Programme) under the DEIS strategy – collectively form the Educational Welfare Services of the new Agency. Within the Agency, the statutory Education Welfare Service has specific responsibility for the Agency’s general function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The appointment of EWOs is a function of the Child and Family Agency.
I have been advised that the position of EWO in Dublin 15 has been vacant, on account of a number of circumstances, since April 2012. I have also been advised that arrangements are in place so that schools in the area continue to have access to support from the Education Welfare Service and that currently this support is being provided by the Senior EWO in the area. The Agency has advised me that it has become necessary to prioritise those cases where students are out of school, expelled or have special education needs in complex situations.
The Agency has advised me that a reorganisation of Educational Welfare Services within available resources in the greater Dublin area is being undertaken at present with a view to providing an improved service in a number of areas, including Dublin 15.
Vacancies that arise in staffing in the front line services for children and young people at risk of early school leaving are kept under review and will be prioritised by the Agency, in consultation with my Department, in so far as possible working within Government policy on public service numbers and the moratorium on recruitment.
