Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2015
137. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has analysed the impact that homelessness has on school attendance, the education of pupils and the life of schools; her plans to address these matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33975/15]
View answerStatutory responsibility for school attendance and educational welfare lies with my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Educational Welfare Service of TUSLA which is an agency of his Department, has statutory powers to work with children and their families who may be experiencing difficulty with school attendance including issues arising from homelessness.
I understand from his Department that the Educational Welfare Service of Tusla is engaging with the Homeless Services in relation to school-age children and their families who are experiencing homelessness.
In terms of teaching and learning in schools, the issue of homelessness is covered in age appropriate manner throughout the school curriculum, in particular within the area of Social Personal and Health Education, with the focus on human rights and human dignity.
