Brendan Howlin
Ceist:72 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has established the educational welfare board; the composition of the board; and the terms of reference in this regard. [12315/01]
Written Answers - Educational Welfare Board.
The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, provides for the establishment of a national educational welfare board and a nationwide educational welfare service with a view to ensuring that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives an adequate level of education. The board will be given a lead role in developing co-ordinated supports and strategies to promote and encourage regular attendance at school and to ensure that young people remain actively involved in education up to early adulthood. The detailed functions of the board are set out in section 10 of the Act.
The Act provides that the board will consist of a chairperson appointed by the Minister and 12 ordinary members appointed as follows. The chief executive, when appointed; one representative of parents; one representative of school management; one representative of teachers; one representative of educational welfare officers; one representative of community and voluntary bodies; six appointed following consultation with the Ministers for Health and Children, Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Social, Community and Family Affairs, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Tourism, Sport and Recreation.
Nominations to the board have now been received from the education partners and relevant Departments and I hope to be in a position to establish the board very shortly.