Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019
564. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on the administration of the school completion programme and on the request by Tusla for the implementation of the recommendations by an expert panel on the programme which reported in 2017. [43398/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Completion Programme (SCP) continues to deliver a valuable service for some of our most vulnerable young people. Currently, the SCP receives annual funding of €24.7 million.
My Department works with the Educational Welfare Service (EWS) in Tusla to ensure that necessary resources are available to support this programme and to ensure staffing levels are sufficient to deliver a high quality service for those young people most at risk of early school leaving.
However a number of long term complex issues continue to exist in relation to both the governance and the staffing of the programme.
In recognition of the need for a strong policy platform for educational welfare services, including the SCP, I requested that my officials establish a Task Group to support the further development and integration of these services.
The work of this group is near completion. As someone with a background in educational welfare, I am eager to ensure that the output will result in a clear blueprint for the development of the three strands of the EWS, including the SCP.
A consultation event on the blueprint was held on June 10th where those working with vulnerable young people as part of the EWS were able to express their views and help shape the policy blueprint prior to its publication.
The closing date for the consultations was extended to mid-September at the request of some stakeholders. 58 submissions were received and are now being examined. Next steps are being informed by the content of these submissions and action will proceed on that basis with the aim of completion by the end of the year.
As part of the implementation of the actions contained in the blueprint I have requested that a new SCP scheme be scoped out and developed to ensure that its reach, resources and impact are maximised in supporting young people.
My Department has worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure and reform in relation to the employment status of SCP Coordinators and Project workers and I will also continue to examine options in relation to this in the context of the development of this new scheme.
In Budget 2019 I secured an additional €500,000 in funding for the EWS and the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service which I have maintained in Budget 2020. This has allowed the Educational Welfare Service to increase its numbers of Educational Welfare Officers and to provide additional administrative support which has allowed these Educational Welfare Officers to focus on working with young people who are experiencing difficulties with school attendance.
In addition Officials in my Department have been working closely with colleagues in the Department of Education and Skills, the Educational Welfare Service and local stakeholders in the development of Boston College's City Connects programme for the North East Inner City. This is an evidence-based intervention, committed to an ongoing and scientifically rigorous evaluation of results. It is a strengths-based programme and works to the principle of progressive universalism.
This approach means that the strengths of each individual child within a school setting are identified and a set of supports identified which can build on these strengths, while addressing areas of need. DCYA in conjunction with DES and the Irish Youth Foundation through North East Inner City (NEIC) Initiative funding is reviewing the adaptability of the City Connects programme in the 10 primary schools in the NEIC with the expectation of implementation in 2020.
I will continue to lead on advancing supports both in policy and provision in this crucial area.
