Written Answers Nos. 262-281
262. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he continues to monitor the disability sector with a view to ensuring the removal of arbitrary obstacles deemed to impact on persons with disabilities such as access to jobs, services or housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40995/20]
View answer263. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his priorities to support persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40996/20]
View answer264. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he has identified his priorities in respect of the disability sector over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40997/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 262 to 264, inclusive, together.
The Government is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is our key framework for policy and action in this regard. The NDIS takes a whole of Government approach to improving the lives of people with disabilities and creating the best possible opportunities for people them to fulfill their potential. The NDIS Steering Group oversees the implementation of the Strategy. The Group is chaired by the Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte T.D., and meets quarterly. It includes representatives of Government Departments, the National Disability Authority and members of the Disability Stakeholder Group.
A mid-term review of the NDIS was published earlier this year. This was completed following consultation with disability stakeholders, relevant departments and agencies. Stakeholders indicated that they want to see the focus for the next years on implementing existing commitments in the Strategy. They are particularly interested in the implementation of the obligations that arise from Ireland’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Advancing the implementation of the UN Convention will be a priority. Our approach to meeting the obligations of the Convention is one of progressive realisation, each year moving forward on key reforms. The important steps in implementing the Convention are to commence the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act, 2015, to enact the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and to enable the Decision Support Service (DSS) to become operational. These reforms will expand the rights in particular of those with capacity difficulties. I am pleased to have secured an increased budget of €5.8m for the DSS for 2021 which will enable it to open for business in 2022 as agreed.
Ireland will submit its initial State Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities shortly. A consultation process to inform that Report is being launched today by my colleague Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, T.D. As we continue to advance the implementation of the Convention, it is absolutely vital that Government hears the voices of people with lived experience of disability. The experiences and perspectives of people with disabilities are essential to the development of policies and programmes that meet their needs effectively. That is why we are providing Government funding to establish a Disability Participation and Consultation Network as one of the actions to fulfil the Convention. The aim of the Network is to provide a new opportunity for persons with disabilities to be involved in the development of policy and legislation. One of the Network’s first tasks will be to bring the voices of people with disabilities into consultations on Ireland’s first State Report to the UN on our progress in implementing the Convention.
The third strategic priority for the Government in the area of disability is the continued implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (2015-2024). The CES sets out a ten-year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities who are able to, and want to work, are supported and enabled to do so.
The Government is also committed to improving the services provided to people with disabilities. Budget 2021 provides for an unprecedented level of investment in disability services, with the investment of €100m for new initiatives in 2021. In addition to the funding announced for 2021, €20 million once off funding in 2020, has been made available for disability voluntary service providers engaged in the HSE Transforming Lives Reform programme. The increased level of funding in 2021 will enable us to build on initiatives currently underway. Funding will be targeted at five key areas: children’s services, day services, community supports, residential services, and disability integration.
265. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full extent of proposed investment in integration over the next five years; the progress to date in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40998/20]
View answerThe Government is committed to the development and nurturing of an all-inclusive society in Ireland. A number of key strategies are helping to promote such inclusion and diversity across Irish society. The Migrant Integration Strategy 2017 – 2020 is one such strategy.
The Strategy targets all migrants who are legally in the State. It contains 76 actions which are delivered by Government Departments, local authorities, local communities, the business sector, sporting and arts organisations and NGOs across a number of policy areas relevant to the integration of migrants, including employment; education and social inclusion. It also addresses racism and xenophobia, representing a whole-of-Government approach. While the Strategy was due to run until the end of 2020 I have decided to extend it until the end of 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its implementation
A number of funding streams are supporting the integration of migrants. These include -
- A National Funding Programme to promote the Integration of migrants. Grants are spread over three years to support the implementation of these projects. The National Integration Fund 2020 was launched on 11 August 2020 with funding of almost €2.2 million available over a three year period. The Fund supports communities to promote the integration of migrants and their children into Irish society and selected projects will help to combat racism and xenophobia.
- The Communities Integration Fund supports local initiatives and 114 projects have received a total of just under €500,000 from the 2020 fund. The Fund has been in place since 2017.
- Funding from European sources, including the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). The 2019 AMIF allocation provided funding of €4,487,919 to 19 projects. The 2019 European Social Fund (ESF) allocation provided funding of €3,288,498 to 5 projects.
In addition, I am very pleased to have secured an additional €0.6m for Refugee and Migrant Integration for 2021. This increase of almost 10% in funding will support initiatives aimed at meeting the needs of refugees and migrants. It will also allow the Irish Refugee Protection Programme to continue its work to resettle refugees from areas of international conflict, particularly Syria.
As Government funding in this area is allocated on a yearly basis it is not possible to indicate what the total level of funding will be over the coming five years.
The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) new programming period will commence in 2021 and will run until 2027. The fund is split over a number of specific objectives, namely:
- Asylum and Integration
- Returns
- Special Cases / Resettlements
Ireland, as with other EU Member States, does not expect to know the allocations available to it for integration activities under that Fund until February 2021.
In addition, mainstream funding is used to promote integration across a range of policy areas such as in relation to health and education.
266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he and his Department continue to liaise with the various youth organisations throughout the country including an organisation (details supplied) with the objective of identifying the extent to which support continues to be made available in accordance with the wishes of the organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40999/20]
View answer267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications for support received from the various youth organisations throughout the country in 2020 to date; the response proposed or ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41000/20]
View answer273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he continues to be in direct contact with youth organisations in an effort to update their requirements in terms of funding or other supports in 2020 to date; his proposals for further support on the basis of dialogue entered into; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41006/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 266, 267 and 273 together.
My Department provides a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country, including those from disadvantaged communities. I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value both to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.
My Department maintains close contact with the national youth organisations funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme and I, and officials from my Department, meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector (this schedule has been affected in 2020 by Covid-19).
In addition, my officials hold quarterly meetings attended by all Youth Officers from across the country. Youth Officers of the Education and Training Boards (ETB) provide an important support role to my Department in the co-ordination and administration of youth services at local level. These meetings assist my Department in identifying service needs and emerging issues, particularly for vulnerable young people. The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department has set up a working group with five Youth Officers focussed on strategic planning for future capital funding for the youth sector.
Officials from my Department also meet with youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises.
In recent months, key representatives from the youth sector have met with my officials regularly to continuing to assist in developing and updating sector-specific guidance for youth organisations in relation to provision of services during the pandemic, in line with the Government's Resilience and Recovery Roadmap.
In recognition of the vital role played by these services in supporting young people at this time, funding has been maintained throughout this challenging period. The overall budget allocation for the youth sector in my Department for 2020 is €61.79 million in current funding, in addition to a further €3 million in capital funding. Furthermore, I recently secured an additional amount of €1m capital funding in 2020 to support ICT procurement in the youth sector before year end. This sum is in addition to the Covid-related small grant scheme for the sector announced earlier this year.
I have secured an additional €5 million in current funding for youth services nationally as part of Budget 2021. My officials are currently working on the apportionment of these funds in the context of the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume. As part of the Budget 2021 announcements, the youth sector has also been allocated a capital sum of €3m.
This additional funding allocated to youth services in the coming year will support the delivery of universal and targeted youth services nationwide with a particular view to the role played by youth services in supporting mental wellbeing, fostering resilience and developing the social and personal competencies of young people, including disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable young people.
In relation to particular requests for support from youth organisations, organisations have in 2020 submitted applications directly to the Department under the following various schemes:
- 252 applications for funding under the UBU Your Place, Your Space scheme
- 30 applications from National Youth Organisations under the Youth Services Grant Scheme
- 25 National Youth Organisations received capital funding based on applications for funding
- 14 youth organisations received funding under the Youth Climate Justice Fund, based on applications for funding
- Two other organisations which provide supports to young people , Léargas and Gaisce - the President's Award, also applied for and received direct funding from my Department.
In relation to the particular youth service specified by the Deputy, UBU funding for Kildare projects in 2020 amounts to €246,705; a further €246,703 was allocated for the Targeted Youth Funding Scheme (TYFS), and €50,759 was provided for Youth Information Centres in the county.
My Department provides funding to Kildare Youth Services under the UBU Scheme in respect of six local youth projects in Athy, Naas, Leixlip, Newbridge, the Curragh and Kildare town and a Youth Information Centre in Naas.
Kildare & Wicklow ETB, which act on behalf of my Department in administering youth funding in that area, receives funding for Technical Assistance and Youth Work Functions (€190,000 in 2020). It administers the Local Youth Club Funding Scheme, the LBGTI+ funding scheme and the Covid 19 Small grants scheme (€158,500; €4,000 and €3,000 respectively in 2020). The Kildare & Wicklow ETB also administers the 2020 Capital funding scheme for the area which amounted to just over €20,000 in total.
A key tenet of the UBU scheme is the production of evidence of local need. In allocating funding under the scheme, each ETB carries out an Area Profile, Needs Assessment and Service requirement process. This process draws upon quantitative and qualitative information to objectively identify the needs of young people within the ETB’s functional area. This analysis leads to the development of a Service Requirement, which is then used as the basis for discussion between ETBs and service providers in terms of service delivery to meet the needs of young people in the area. This approach ensures that we can target supports to the young people most in need of intervention and that funding is allocated on the basis of evidenced need.
Kildare & Wicklow ETB is there to support the Youth Service in implementing the Service Requirement of the area and its Youth Officer meets regularly with the Youth Service to this end.
268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he and his Department continue to meet in full or in part childcare support applications from crèches and parents; his proposals to further enhance the funding available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41001/20]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) was introduced in November 2019. It offers a statutory entitlement to financial support for childcare. It establishes an equitable and progressive system of universal and income-related subsidies for children up to the age of 15. The NCS derives from the Childcare Support Act 2018 which is the first piece of primary legislation passed in Ireland relating to childcare.
It is a pioneering new scheme which aims to improve children’s outcomes, support lifelong learning, make work pay and reduce child poverty. My Department is fully committed to the success of the NCS to benefit families across Ireland, and envisage its further growth into 2021 as families make greater use of childcare services as we recover from the impact of COVID-19.
NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate for a maximum number of hours per week. The maximum number of subsidised hours available to families has increased from September 2020. Parents in work, study or training can now avail of up to 45 subsidised hours of childcare per week. Parents not in work, study or training can avail of up to 20 subsidised hours of childcare per week.
NCS subsidies can be used in any registered childcare provider that has contracted to provide the NCS in their service.
Over 2,900 childcare providers have contracted to provide the NCS in their service. Over 34,800 children are currently benefitting from their NCS award.
The National Childcare Scheme has been designed to be flexible, with income thresholds, maximum hours and subsidy rates which can be adjusted in line with Government decisions and as more investment becomes available. As such, any adjustments deemed necessary by Government can be carried out in a quick and responsive manner.
Parents can find more information on the NCS at www.ncs.gov.ie and by phoning the Parent Support Centre at 01 906 8530. Parents can also contact their local City/County Childcare Committee to learn more about Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare supports available to them. Details about local CCCs can be found at www.myccc.ie.
269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which counselling or placement services by Tusla have adequate provision in terms of funding, staffing or other supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41002/20]
View answerThe Deputy refers to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla and asked that Tusla reply to the Deputy directly.
270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department is conscious of the concerns of parents whose children have been the victims of cyber or other forms of bullying; if adequate provision is being made to deal with the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41003/20]
View answerI am conscious of the concerns of parents whose children have been affected by cyberbullying and other forms of bullying and am very aware of the distress that it can cause.
A range of Government Departments and agencies have a role to play in relation to online safety. The Action Plan for Online Safety 2018-19, which was launched by the then Taoiseach in July 2018, sets out the rage of actions and activities underway across six key Government Departments ((the then named) Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Education and Skills; Justice and Equality; Children and Youth Affairs; Health and Business, Enterprise and Innovation) to keep children and adults safe online.
Children First operates on the premise that it is the responsibility of everyone in society to keep children and young people safe from harm. This responsibility includes keeping children safe from harm online. As part of the Action Plan, in January 2019 my Department published an addendum to the Children First National Guidance to include a specific reference to the need to consider online safety in the preparation of risk assessments and Child Safeguarding Statements. In addition, Tusla has revised its template for the completion of Child Safeguarding Statements to refer to the need to consider online risks to children if a service provides access to the internet.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth provides funding to three national youth organisations which provide online safety resources for the youth sector. The National Youth Council of Ireland provides the Web Safety in Youth Work Resource, SpunOut has developed an Online Safety Hub which provides guidelines for young people on online safety and Youth Work Ireland, in conjunction with McAfee Security, has developed a digital safety programme which highlights the risks associated with online activity. Further detail below:
- The Web Safety in Youth Work Resource is produced by the National Youth Council of Ireland and is a component of its child protection programme. It is a resource intended to support those who work with young people in small and large youth organisations to ensure that young people, staff, volunteers and organisations are safe while online.
- Spunout.ie which is funded by the Department under the Youth Service Grant Scheme has developed an Online Safety Hub which provides guidelines on online safety, privacy and security for young people on all the main social media platforms as well as messaging, gaming and dating apps/sites.
- In September 2017 the then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs launched a new Digital Safety Programme, which is a collaboration between Youth Work Ireland and McAfee Security. The programme teaches school-aged children how to safely access the internet via digital devices, with topics including online security, accessing social media safely and cyberbullying.
As part of the government response to Covid-19, in April, the then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs launched a range of supports for parents and children to support them during this challenging time. This included a new online gov.ie resource for parents, entitled ‘Parents Centre’
(https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/parents-centre/) which brings together high quality information and online resources for parents into one portal. Parents Centre provides links to a wide variety of material including around learning, parenting and supports that are available. It also includes links to Webwise, an initiative of the Department of Education, which is the key internet safety online access point for parents in Ireland. As a response to Covid-19, the Webwise Parents Hub has been updated with online safety advice for parents, including around screen time as well as with the publication of ‘A Parent’s Guide for a Better Internet’, covering topics including managing technology use at home, social networking tips and dealing with cyberbullying.
Bullying in schools is a particular problem due to the fact that children spend a significant portion of their time there. In the first instance, the school authorities are responsible for dealing with such bullying. School management boards must have a code of behaviour and an anti-bullying policy in place. A range of resources are available on the website of the Department of Education to assist parents, young people and schools to deal with bullying and cyberbullying https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/bullying-information-for-parents-and-students/
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to the enactment of the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Bill and the establishment of an Online Safety Commissioner. The general scheme of the OSMR Bill 2019, which has the aim of regulating harmful content and creating a safer environment online for all users, including children and young people, was approved by Government and published by the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in January 2020.
Online safety codes will deal with a wide range of issues, including measures to be taken by online services to tackle the availability of harmful online content, for example cyberbullying material, on their services. The Online Safety Commissioner will also have a role in promoting positive digital citizenship among children and young people, in conjunction with Webwise and other educational partners, schools, as well as the Ombudsman for Children. The Commissioner will also develop a research programme led by internationally recognised experts to review the existing and developing literature in relation to the consequences, benefits and potential harms to society and especially children, of digital activity and the concept of duty of care and the public interest in the design of online platforms.
271. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the degree to which he remains satisfied regarding the availability of community child support services including the provision of support for afterschool activities through youth clubs and similar bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41004/20]
View answerI want to assure the Deputy of my commitment to supporting young people and their families, particularly at the present challenging time.
Structured services and activities, such as those provided by the youth sector, play an important role for young people, supporting their development, and fostering their wellbeing and resilience. I am pleased to report that funding to the youth sector has been protected throughout the period of restrictions, and youth services responded quickly to the crisis, adapting and innovating in order to maintain services and supports. At the same time, crucial outreach and detached services have continued throughout the restrictions to reach the most vulnerable young people and their families.
I can also confirm that I secured an additional €5 million in current funding for youth services nationally as part of Budget 2021. This additional funding allocated to youth services in the coming year will support the delivery of universal and targeted youth services nationwide.
It is equally important that we meet the demand for high quality, accessible and affordable school-age childcare services.The Programme for Government commits to increasing the range of such services and my Department has provided support for the development of school-age childcare places through dedicated capital grant funding. Between 2017 and 2019, almost €6 million was awarded in capital funding to support the creation of new school-age childcare places nationally and to support the quality of provision.
School aged children are also eligible for subsidised childcare under the National Childcare Scheme. Up to 45 subsidised hours per week are available where parents are engaged in work, training or study, and up to 20 subsidised hours where parents are not engaged in work, training or study.
In addition to these services, my Department and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency have a robust suite of services in place including the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme.
This programme seeks to strengthen and develop Tusla’s prevention, early intervention and family support services and includes the Tusla ABC Programme intended to address multidimensional child poverty using an area-based approach.
Tusla has also developed Child and Family Support Networks across Ireland, and supports Children and Young People’s Services Committees which have a central role in service planning at a county level.
In addition, Family Resource Centres deliver services locally in domains such as education, community group support and counselling services.
My officials continue to work closely with relevant statutory agencies and other delivery partners to ensure that children and young people are supported during the ongoing period of restrictions.
272. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which a comprehensive follow-up response becomes available to victims of bullying or child abuse; if adequate provision in respect of case workers is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41005/20]
View answerThe Deputy refers to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla and asked that Tusla reply to the Deputy directly.
274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of reports of abuse of children in care, residential or fosterage, in 2020 to date; the action taken or pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41007/20]
View answerThe Deputy refers to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that Tusla reply directly to the Deputy in due course.
275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the provision made for children in care who have reached the age to transition to alternative services; the extent to which such provisions have been adequately met in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41008/20]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons and families in respect of whom integration supports have been provided in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41009/20]
View answerThe Government is committed to the development and nurturing of an all-inclusive society in Ireland. We are in the process of implementing a number of key strategies which are helping to promote inclusion and diversity across Irish society. The Migrant Integration Strategy 2017 – 2020 is one such strategy.
The Strategy targets all migrants who are legally in the State. It contains 76 actions which are delivered by Government Departments, local authorities, local communities, the business sector, sporting and arts organisations and NGOs across a number of policy areas relevant to the integration of migrants, including employment; education and social inclusion. It also addresses racism and xenophobia, representing a whole-of-Government approach. While the Strategy was due to run until the end of 2020 I have decided to extend it until the end of 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its implementation
The number of persons interacting with these services is not currently available to my Department.
277. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of residential care units for children provided by NGOs or charitable organisations; the number of such organisations providing this service; the costs of this provision; the number of children placed in such provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41018/20]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
278. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of residential care units for children provided by private organisations on a for-profit basis; the number of such organisations that are approved by Tusla; the costs of this provision; the number of children placed in such provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41019/20]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
279. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of funding provided to Tusla resulting from Budget 2021 being allocated towards the education support service; the amount in extra funding being allocated to the service based on Budget 2020 figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41036/20]
View answerThe Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) has statutory responsibility under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 for ensuring all children attend school regularly. Educational Welfare Officers (EWO's) work with families and children to overcome barriers to their school attendance, participation and retention.
My Department works with the TESS to ensure that necessary resources are available to support the programme and to ensure staffing levels are sufficient to deliver a high quality service for those young people most at risk of early school leaving. My officials are currently working with Tusla to finalise the 2021 allocation.
There has been an increase in the number of Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) from approximately 50 EWOs in 2014 to 98 EWOs at present. The School Completion Programme (SCP) budget is currently €24.7m
As the Deputy will be aware, An Taoiseach announced, as part of his speech on the formation of Government on Saturday 27 June, that “Educational welfare functions will be returned to the Department [of Education].” and arrangements for the transfer of functions are now at an advanced stage.
280. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department will finish compiling school data that will identify the number of children who did not return to school after the Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41037/20]
View answerThe Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 which emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention.
TESS has been working in collaboration with my Department and the Department of Education (DoE) to support the return to school since September.
As part of this process, TESS has gathered information in relation to return to school post Covid-19 closure. The verification and analysis of this data is still ongoing.
The Department of Education has requested the data be provided to them for further consideration in the context of other information inputs. TESS continues to engage with the Department of Education on this matter and once the verification and analysis is complete, a report will be provided to both my Department and the Department of Education.
I can however assure the Deputy that from early indications TESS do not have a significant concern, which is testament to the work of schools and community supports in student engagement during the pandemic. TESS has, and continues to, work with schools in respect of school attendance and works in close collaboration with my department and the Department of Education.
As the Deputy will be aware, An Taoiseach announced, as part of his speech on the formation of Government on Saturday 27 June, that “Educational welfare functions will be returned to the Department [of Education].” and arrangements for the transfer of functions are now at an advanced stage.
281. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of education welfare officers; if this number has increased; if he will consider increasing the number of education welfare officers if data reveals an increase number of children that have not returned to school after Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41038/20]
View answerThe Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) has statutory responsibility under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 for ensuring all children attend school regularly. Educational Welfare Officers (EWO's) work with families and children to overcome barriers to their school attendance, participation and retention.
TESS has been working in collaboration with my Department and the Department of Education (DoE) to support the return to school since September. As part of this process, TESS has gathered information in relation to return to school post Covid-19 closure. The verification and analysis of this data is still ongoing.
The Department of Education has requested the data be provided to them for further consideration in the context of other information inputs. TESS continues to engage with the Department of Education on this matter and once the verification and analysis is complete, a report will be provided to both my Department and the Department of Education.
My Department works with the Educational Welfare Service to ensure that necessary resources are available to support this programme and to ensure staffing levels are sufficient to deliver a high quality service for those young people most at risk of early school leaving.
There has been an increase in the number of Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) from approximately 50 EWOs in 2014 to 98 EWOs at present.
The TESS has provided my department with the table attached below identifying the five different regions and number of Education Welfare Officers (EWO) in each region.
|
Region 1 |
Region 2 |
Region 3 |
Region 4 |
Region 5 |
|
Southern Area: Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, |
South County Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny. |
North Dublin City, South Dublin City, Clondalkin and Lucan |
West/North-West: Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford, Offaly, Laois, Westmeath. |
Fingal, Louth, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan |
The number of Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) in each region is set out below.
|
Region 1 |
Region 2 |
Region 3 |
Region 4 |
Region 5 |
|
Number of EWOs |
Number of EWOs |
Number of EWOs |
Number of EWOs |
Number of EWOs |
|
19 |
24 |
16 |
24 |
15 |
As the Deputy will be aware, An Taoiseach announced, as part of his speech on the formation of Government on Saturday 27 June, that “Educational welfare functions will be returned to the Department [of Education].” and arrangements for the transfer of functions are now at an advanced stage.
