Vol. 441 No. 5
20 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education, in view of the disadvantaged home background of many of the children attending Our Lady of Lourdes national school, Goldenbridge, Dublin 8, if she will allocate a home/school liaison teacher to the school.
As stated in my announcement on the 1994 Education budget, I propose to allocate 15 additional co-ordinator posts to the Home-School-Community liaison service at primary level with effect from September next. These extra posts will facilitate a significant expansion of the service and the schools to be targeted will be selected from among those already included in the disadvantaged areas scheme.
The school to which the Deputy refers is already included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and as such, has been allocated two concessionary teaching posts. It also receives additional capitation funding at a rate of £17 per pupil.
The process of selecting schools for inclusion in the expanded home-school-community liaison service is currently underway in my Department and the needs of the school in question will be considered in this context.
Does the Minister accept that the school in question serves a seriously disadvantaged community in Dublin city and that many of the children come from one of the largest and most socially disadvantaged local authority flat complexes in the city? Does she accept that the staff of any school which serves such a community are continually under stress and that the staff at this school are very concerned because they are threatened with the loss of one of the existing staff members? They wish the Minister to understand that this school badly needs the services of a home-school liaison teacher given the social background of many of the children.
This school is included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and the staff consists of a principal, 12 assistants and two remedial teachers. There are also two concessionary posts. I propose to allocate extra home-school liaison teachers. The needs of this school will be considered in the context of the selection process which is underway.
When I used the words "lip service" on an earlier question I was not directing my remarks at the Minister; I was referring to the way the education system is being operated and to the way children have been neglected and become the victims. What impact will the appointment of an extra 15 home-school liaison teachers have given that it has been stated in recent reports that 30,000 children are absent from school every day? While I do not expect the Minister to give a commitment will she consider visiting this school to speak to the staff and the children when she will be made aware, despite the extra teachers, of the difficulties they are encountering and of the fact that they genuinely need to retain existing staff and the additional services of a home school liaison teacher?
As the school is included in the disadvantaged areas scheme it deserves all the help it has been given. If I was in a position to allocate an extra 50 co-ordinator posts to the home-school community liaison service I have no doubt 250 schools would be seeking the services of a home-school liaison teacher. The scheme has been operating on a temporary basis but it is recognised as part of the education service. I will not be in a position to say before the end of May if this or any other school will be allocated a home school liaison teacher. I am confident that the extra 15 posts will be allocated to the schools most in need of their services. I will take an opportunity to visit the school if I am passing Goldenbridge but I will let the Deputy know. I intend to continue to expand the home-school community liaison service given that it plays an important role in building the confidence of children who come from families who need our support. As long as I am Minister for Education, the service will continue to have my full support.
