Seán Sherlock
Question:91. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to the correspondence from a parent in County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46820/23]
View answerWednesday, 25 October 2023
Questions (91)
Written answers
Since January 2021 Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) is under the remit of my Department.
TESS operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. TESS has three strands namely the Statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and the two school support services the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL) and the School Completion Programme (SCP). The three TESS strands work together collaboratively with schools, families and other relevant services to achieve the best educational outcomes for children and young people. All three strands share the same national outcomes:
• Improved Attendance
• Improved Participation
• Improved Retention
The EWS deal with children and families who have difficulties in relation to school attendance, participation and retention. This is a statutory service and its primary role is to ensure that every child either attends school regularly or otherwise receives a certain minimum education, to ensure and secure every child’s entitlement to education.
Officials in my Department will engage with the Educational Welfare Service in relation to the issues raised is the correspondence referred to by the Deputy.