Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 November 2018
141. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to support teachers who are working with children experiencing homelessness; and the additional supports being made available to schools in areas with cohorts of homeless families. [48551/18]
View answerA range of resources are available to support schools in dealing with identified additional educational needs, including needs which may arise for children who are experiencing homelessness.
Where staff are aware of homelessness and where it is impacting on school attendance and participation the services of TUSLA Educational Welfare Service and the support services of my own Department, in particular those of the National Educational Psychological Service are available.
Identification of Need and Early Intervention and Prevention Strategies are considered key components to supporting children who experience homelessness. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) works with schools through the DES Continuum of Support framework. NEPS psychologists can provide advice and guidance to Principals and teachers in relation to individual students needs and in the development of whole school approaches to support inclusion, participation and integration.
NEPS supports the role of the school in identifying individual needs and at a systems level in the development of a culture and environment which supports connectedness and provides structure and stability, key elements which underpin learning and opportunity.
DEIS is the main policy initiative of my Department to tackle educational disadvantage. DEIS Schools may use DEIS supports to meet the additional identified needs that may arise for pupils experiencing homelessness.
In addition, as the Deputy may be aware, the Homelessness Inter-Agency Group (HIAG) was established by my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, to bring about greater coherence in the provision of homelessness related services across the relevant Government Departments and my Department is represented on this Group.
