Ms Maria Tobin:

I will address the Deputy's question regarding the social work concern. This is something that comes up, and has come up more in the past, especially in Meitheal. We are responsible for induction CPD to newly appointed home school community liaison, HSCL, co-ordinators. As part of that induction we make it very clear to HSCL co-ordinators that they are experts in education. This is why the Department of Education and Skills invests this money to ensure that teachers who are released from teaching duty can reach out to families to give them guidance and support, around the parents' own education and their child's education. When Meitheal was set up as part of Tusla's partnership and family support network we saw this as an opportunity to support the community aspect of the HSCL co-ordinator role. They have always had a role around linking parents to supports within the community. In the CPD for newly appointed co-ordinators we say that their role is to refer, refer, refer - unless it is an educational issue. Then the co-ordinator has the expertise to offer the support.

With regard to Meitheal, sometimes the school may be the first place where additional needs are identified. With educational needs, be they behavioural or learning support, sometimes there are additional needs and particularly with behavioural issues in school or with school refusal. Additional support may be needed in these cases and they need a wraparound support service within the community. From this point of view, Meitheal is a vehicle for co-ordinators to actually access that support so that the group of professionals who can best support that family can be brought around the table. This is with complete consultation with the parent because the parent must agree to this process. It cannot happen without the permission of the parent. The professionals can then engage. The HSCL co-ordinator is part of that team, but only part of the team with regard to educational support. If the primary need is an educational one, the HSCL co-ordinator may take the lead on the plan to support the family. If the primary need is not an educational one they will be part of the Meitheal team but certainly not as social workers. It is important the HSCL co-ordinators maintain their role as educators and experts in that area. We support that and we would always fight to maintain it. It is, however, very much a co-operative approach. Meitheal is about co-operation, linking and engaging, with support from other family support services in the community. I hope this clarifies the matter for the committee.