Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
183. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if she will outline what, if any, supports or resources are available to mainstream, non-DEIS schools regarding home-school community liaison, administration, counselling and therapeutic funds; and if her Department intends to increase supports in these areas. [15792/23]
View answerThe Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) is a programme that provides targeted resources to schools with the highest levels of educational disadvantage in order to support students and assist them to achieve their potential in education. The DEIS programme has been rolled out to a number of schools throughout the country. Where a school has a non-DEIS status, they are also provided with relevant supports.
The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme seeks to promote partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services, with a view to supporting improved attendance, participation and retention. HSCL is a school-based intervention provided to address the needs of students and their families in disadvantaged areas through acknowledging and developing the role of the parent as prime educator. This is achieved through targeting the families of students most at risk of educational disadvantage and putting in place a range of appropriate support interventions in order to improve educational outcomes for children. HSCL supports are available to non DEIS schools, such examples include: a pilot project which supports Traveller and Roma pupils in approximately 50 schools, This comprises of 1 HSCL, 2 community education workers and 1. Educational welfare officer. My Department has also allocated 10 HSCL Coordinator posts in 14 non-DEIS post-primary schools.
The recent extension of the DEIS programme to new schools is just one component of work in my vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. While the DEIS programme supports those schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage, I also recognise that there are students at risk of educational disadvantage in all schools. Following the National Census 2022 held on the 3rd April last, it is envisaged that an updated HP Deprivation Index will be generated by Pobal and will be available in Q3 of 2023. My Department will engage with Pobal in relation to this process. The updated HP Deprivation Index, when available, will be considered by my Department to help inform future resource allocation to tackle educational disadvantage. The next phase of work will consider all schools, within and outside the DEIS programme and explore the overall allocation of resources, to schools to tackle educational disadvantage. Part of this programme of work will involve consultation with relevant stakeholders over the coming months.
In relation to administrative supports, my Department provides funding to all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
In relation to therapeutic and counselling supports, the provision of child and adolescent mental health services in Ireland lies specifically within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. However, The Department of Education plays an important role in supporting the wellbeing and mental health of our young people. The Department’s Wellbeing Policy and Framework for practice has given recognition to the importance of promoting wellbeing in Education. The approach set out in the Wellbeing Policy is a whole school and preventative approach which has multiple components that include providing children and young people with opportunities to build core social and emotional skills and competencies, experience supportive relationships within the school setting and be part of a school environment and culture that feels both physically and psychologically safe.
A number of supports are currently being offered to all schools to support wellbeing and mental health.
- Schools are encouraged to use a reflective, school self-evaluation approach to identify and prioritise the needs of its own school community in relation to the promotion of wellbeing and mental health, and to respond to meeting those needs. To support schools in this work the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) is currently providing training to schools to ensure that the promotion of wellbeing will be at the core of the ethos of every school. Schools will be navigated through an introduction to the Wellbeing Framework and how to use the School Self Evaluation (SSE) process in guiding wellbeing promotion in their schools. These seminars will be supported by two webinars and in-school visits. - NEPS has developed training for school staff on the promotion of wellbeing and resilience in schools which include upskilling school staff on the use and implementation of therapeutically-informed approaches in schools. These include trauma-informed approaches, approaches based on the principles of cognitive behaviour therapy, and attachment-aware approaches. The approaches outlined in the training are based on research findings, on the experience of experts in their fields and on the experience of practicing psychologists working in schools. The training will build the capability of school staff in both primary and post-primary settings, including for school leaders, teachers and SNAs.
- NEPS provides training for school staff on the Friends for Life programmes to help reduce anxiety in children and also the Incredible Years Classroom Management System.
The programmes and initiatives set out above are in addition to the educational psychological support that NEPS provide to all primary and post-primary schools. NEPS works closely with the HSE and its agencies to ensure those who may require the provision of therapy or counselling are referred on to the appropriate clinical services for intervention and support.
I announced in the budget that €5 million will be invested in piloting a programme of counselling supports for primary school students. This will serve to support the very positive work which already takes place in the area of wellbeing in our schools. The details of the programme are currently being finalised.
