Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 12 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 8

Written Answers. - Home-School-Community Liaison Scheme.

Mary O'Rourke

Ceist:

101 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education when the home-school-community liaison scheme was first introduced; the Minister who initiated this scheme; the person appointed to head this project; the number of teachers who have been appointed each year to this scheme since its inception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24267/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The home-school-community liaison scheme was first introduced on a pilot basis in disadvantaged primary schools in 1990. The scheme was introduced in post-primary schools in 1991.

The scheme was initiated by the then Minister for Education, Deputy O'Rourke.

Following a review of the operation of the scheme in 1993, I decided to place the scheme on a formal footing within the education service.

The day to day operation of the scheme is overseen by the national co-ordinator of the home-school-community liaison service. The scheme is managed by members of my Department's inspectorate. Also, a national steering committee has been appointed to monitor the overall operation and development of the scheme. This committee is representative of the various Departments and other interests concerned with the delivery and development of education services.

A table setting out the number of teachers appointed to the scheme follows. At primary level, there are currently 105 co-ordinators serving 177 schools. At post-primary level, there are 83 co-ordinators serving 84 schools.

Number of Teachers appointed to the Home-School-Community Liaison Scheme.

School Year	Number of Primary Teachers appointed as co-ordinators	Number of Post-Primary Teachers appointed as co-ordinators
1990-91	30	0
1991-92	15	13
1992-93	0	13
1993-94	15	9
1994-95	15	14
1995-96	30	36
1996-97	0	0

* A national co-ordinator has also been appointed since the introduction of the Scheme in 1990 and an assistant national co-ordinator was appointed in 1992.