Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
470. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education the length of time the home school liaison officer post for south east Dublin has been vacant; when is it likely to be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56374/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra471. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education the number of home school liaison officers approved for the Dublin region; of the number of approved posts, how many remain vacant; the length of time they have been vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56375/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 471 together.
The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme is one of the key supports provided by my Department as part of the overall DEIS programme. Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) manage the HSCL scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme seeks to promote partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services, with a view to supporting improved attendance, participation and retention.
All DEIS urban primary schools and all DEIS post-primary schools are included in the HSCL scheme, which currently serves 687 DEIS schools, catering for approximately 207,000 children and young people. The scheme is delivered by 528 full-time HSCL Coordinators, who are teachers in these schools and assigned to HSCL duties either in individual schools or in clusters of schools. There are currently 190 HSCL Coordinators employed in Co. Dublin.
With regard to the school referred to by the Deputy, from the most recent information available to me one post is temporarily vacant. My Department has been informed by TESS that they are working closely with the management of the school to fill the vacancy in the shortest possible timeframe.
