Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will begin by noting that I have taken a collaborative approach to the development of this legislation with both non-governmental organisations, NGOs, and Members of both Houses. I tabled quite a number of amendments on Committee Stage at an earlier point in the Bill's development and took on board the vast majority of the recommendations made from the NGO sector, for example, which were supported by colleagues in both Houses. I have introduced some highly significant amendments with regard to the family support area in particular, as well as to other aspects of the Bill.

As for the question of highlighting educational welfare, one reason the educational welfare service is being brought into the agency is precisely because of the point made by Senator Leyden, namely, the importance of educational welfare. I recognise this and was delighted when the educational welfare service was brought in under the umbrella, as well as with the co-operation I received from the Minister, Deputy Quinn, in that regard. This is really important because as the Senator pointed out, educational welfare clearly is a key issue. One of the first places in which it will be noticed that children are having difficulties is often in non-attendance at school. I refer to section 72(2), as I did on Committee Stage, in which it is absolutely clear that all functions being undertaken by the National Educational Welfare Board at present are being transferred in full to the new agency. On Committee Stage, I read those functions into the record of this House and as Senator Leyden is aware, they are well-detailed in that legislation. Consequently, all of this will come under the remit of the new agency. It is all captured in the provisions of section 72(2) that all the current functions of the aforementioned agency will transfer automatically to the new agency.

It might be helpful to add further that the welfare of a child encompasses many aspects and in this regard, the term "development and welfare" encompasses any functions transferring from the National Educational Welfare Board. I do not wish to replace the broad focus of the section. In its broadest sense, educational welfare also comprises part of the work and function of teachers, the National Educational Psychological Service and the National Council for Special Education. Consequently, I do not wish to include a suggestion in the Bill that educational welfare is solely the remit of the agency and I believe the broad-based approach I have taken in drafting the legislation captures what both Senators Leyden and Cullinane seek. The concept of educational attainment is captured clearly by any commonsense understanding in respect of development and welfare. Moreover, added to this is the transfer of all the functions of the National Educational Welfare Board to the agency. This is greatly to be welcomed because the work being undertaken by educational welfare officers is highly significant and all of this will be transferred.

That work includes the school completion programme and the home-school liaison programme. Those initiatives are very important in terms of prioritising that group of young people who might leave school early. For these reasons, I cannot accept the amendment.