Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are a number of important strands here in making sure we get the best outcomes for young people with the home school liaison officers and ensuring we have counselling in primary schools. There is an important pilot scheme that has been extended to 61 urban DEIS primary schools in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Ballymun, Finglas and Darndale. I want to see that further expanded.

There have been 15 community link workers appointed to support Traveller and Roma communities, particularly for children at risk of educational disadvantage. There has been really positive work, with programmes and pilot schemes established and being rolled out. They all have the same objective. How do we provide wraparound support to children, families and communities to ensure they get the education they are entitled to and can benefit from? Keeping a young person in school for as long as possible means the vast majority of young people will have a better outcome and outlook in life. That is my objective and my priority. I look forward to working with the Deputy and all our stakeholders to ensure we can achieve that.

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