Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 April 2016
78. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures she will put in place to cater for the specific needs of homeless children in the education system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8586/16]
View answer79. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of homeless children in primary level education and in second level education. [8587/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.
The statutory role in relation to school age homeless children rests with the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, which operates under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Tusla has published a document to assist educational welfare staff in dealing with this group - Engaging with Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness. It is available on Tusla's website at the following link -
http://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/EWS_Homelessness_Guide.pdf
Statistics in relation to school attendance are collected by Tusla in accordance with Section 21 of the Education Welfare Act, 2000.
