James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tusla is comfortable to be engaged with this programme and anxious to continue to be so. It has already taken several actions to strengthen the operation of the programme on foot of the ESRI review. There have been improvements to the annual school retention plans to focus on outcomes to be achieved for children and young people in the locality. Focused discussions have commenced with all those involved in the delivery of the programme on the review findings and how to strengthen the core functions of the programme. A new governance structure has been put in place at national level to support local projects in the development of the programme and to improve integration with the related home-school community-liaison and statutory education welfare officers. There will be new school attendance guidelines to advise schools on the practical supports needed to enable children to maximise their participation in education.

We are in close contact with the Department of Education and Skills on this programme. We are mutually concerned with outcomes for children. We know if they stay in school they achieve higher educational outcomes.

They are more employable and therefore have better prospects of higher incomes later in life. We are very much committed at all stages of a child's development to ensure we get the best outcomes for them.

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