Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Chair. The kind of work that is done in this area and that is not necessarily seen is hugely important. One of the big difficulties in areas where DEIS schools operate relates to parents engaging with those schools. This is because many of them had bad experiences at school and they literally do not want to come in the door of the school. In that regard, our guests' role is really important.

Following on from that, I want to ask whether those of our guests who have that experience have recommendations on how schools might engage with parents a bit more. In my constituency, Corpus Christi primary school in Moyrossbrings parents in by means of encouraging them - mothers and fathers - to attend cooking classes there. In that way, they are made to feel comfortable in the school. Ms Tobin will be familiar with this. I know other schools do that sort of thing. Is there something more that schools can do to bring the families into schools as well as bringing the schools to the families by means of the work our guests do?

The principals of primary and post-primary DEIS schools in Limerick have a really good clustering system whereby they meet and work together. Perhaps the witnesses could comment on clustering.

Ms Tobin and Deputy Madigan referred to measuring outcomes. Does this happen? Perhaps that is a question for the officials from the Department.

Does Tusla engage with the area-based childhood, ABC, programmes, which also come under the remit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and which involve zoning in on really deprived communities and working with families from the birth of children onwards. Is there some involvement with the ABC programmes, which are really good?

I have a final question. I apologise to the Chair for asking so many. A previous speaker referred to Traveller children. Obviously, not all Traveller children and not all homeless children attend DEIS schools. Are there children who are falling through the cracks? Again, perhaps this is more a question for the Department. I know of Traveller children who attend schools in an area that would be considered quite well-off generally. They are not in DEIS schools but they do come from a very needy family. Children in homeless accommodation would sometimes find themselves in a similar situation. That may not always be the case because they might be able to continue to go to school in their own communities even though they are currently living in hotels or hubs. Perhaps one of the witnesses could comment on how we can get to those children who are often the most vulnerable - by definition, they are the most vulnerable in many cases - and not allow them to fall through the cracks.