Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

It should be said that, under the Education (Welfare) Act, responsibility in this regard rests primarily with parents and schools. We would all accept this, yet there is still a need for intervention by the NEWB. If a child has been absent for more than 60 days, the educational welfare officers become engaged in his or her situation, but only after all other efforts have failed. As I mentioned in my reply to a previous question, other supports are in place to assist schools, parents and teachers, such as the home-school community liaison programme, the schools completion programme and so forth.

The NEWB has a budget of €9.6 million and 109 posts, 106 of which I understand are probably filled. The moratorium applies, but we are in discussions with the Department of Finance in respect of the role of the NEWB's chief executive officer, a post that will fall to be filled in the near future.

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