Ms Maria Tobin:

There was a question on the number of HSCL co-ordinators. There are clustering arrangements between schools. At a national level, we look at feeder primary schools for local post-primary schools. If they exist, we would have one HSCL co-ordinator shared between two primary schools and these would link with the co-ordinator in the post-primary school. These decisions are based on the level of disadvantage and the enrolment numbers for the schools in question. The Department of Education and Skills looks at the deprivation index in determining the allocation of supports for schools. Nevertheless, we would certainly welcome the allocation of additional HSCL co-ordinators because it would be wonderful to see, particularly if the funding permitted. Not all children in DEIS primary schools will transition to a DEIS post-primary school. As a result, there is every chance that a child who has been supported in primary school will go into a large school aged 12 and there will be no HSCL or support to follow the child and ensure that he or she makes a successful transition. I am a former guidance counsellor and I believe that successful transition involves a full year, not just getting a child from one school to another. It would involve giving continual support to the family and the child throughout the first year because children are very vulnerable at this time.

As Tusla education and welfare services, we have concerns about attendance and dropout in first year. It can be the start of a very slippery slope and impact on retention going forward.