Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Social Inclusion Unit.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

76 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the work and responsibilities of the social inclusion unit; the number of staff employed in the unit; and the precise work it has carried out since its inception. [17131/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The social inclusion unit was established in December 1998. The objective of the unit is to co-ordinate my Department's policies and programmes aimed at tackling educational disadvantage and social exclusion. The current staffing levels are: one principal officer, one assistant principal officer, one shared assistant principal officer who has other duties in the area of youth affairs, one higher executive officer, one part-time executive officer and one clerical officer.

The wide-ranging work programme includes representing the Department on the following: interdepartmental policy committee on the national anti-poverty strategy jointly led by the Departments of the Taoiseach and Social, Community and Family Affairs; national steering committee for the integrated services process, soon to be completed, which fulfilled the co-ordination role for the process on behalf of the Department in addition to providing a staff member for the Dublin 8 implementation team; interdepartmental policy group on the national drugs strategy to which the national drugs strategy team reports.

The section also acts as both an internal and external contact point for queries regarding educational disadvantage and liaises regularly with sections in the Department that deliver programmes aimed at tackling educational disadvantage; co-ordinates material for the monthly social inclusion senior officials group and the Cabinet committee on social inclusion; acts in a liaison role for my Department on the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness providing regular updates on the educational components in same and addresses queries raised; maintains links with the national education co-ordinator and local education co-ordinators in the 38 area-based partnerships; prepares the departmental input into the annual national anti-poverty strategy report; represents the Department on the Dublin Inner City Partnership and other committees as required, such as the Inter-Departmental Committee on Homelessness, the Youth Homeless Forum and the review groups on school meals and back-to-school footwear and clothing; acts in a liaison role in support of the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Hanafin. The section co-ordinated the survey of spare accommodation in all primary and post primary schools in support of the national child care strategy during 2000 and co-ordinated the Department's input into the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion submitted to the EU on 1 June 2001.

The unit is currently leading a working group on educational disadvantage as part of the review of the national anti-poverty strategy in accordance with commitments given under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. As part of this process, a national consultative seminar was held on 24 May, attended by 110 delegates, and the final report will be completed by the end of June.

The social inclusion unit will also provide secretariat support for the educational disadvantage committee to be finalised shortly.