Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Bill would benefit from a more explicit acknowledgment of the importance of educational welfare. The link between school non-attendance and child welfare concerns are well known. It is important to recognise that educational welfare services are a route for identifying other underlying child protection issues. Greater visibility of the issue of educational welfare would help for greater buy-in from the staff of the National Education Welfare Board, NEWB. I hope the Minister will take our concerns on board.