Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of education welfare officers employed; the cost to the Exchequer of such employment; the likely additional cost of employing 300 education welfare officers nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12656/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Since its formal launch in December 2003, the aim of the National Educational Welfare Board has been to provide a service to the most disadvantaged areas and most at-risk groups. Five regional teams have been established with bases in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford and staff have been deployed in areas of greatest disadvantage and in areas designated under the Government's RAPID programme. Some 13 towns with significant school going populations, 12 of which are designated under the Government's RAPID programme, also now have an educational welfare officer allocated to them. In addition, the board will follow up on urgent cases nationally where children are not currently receiving an education.

The overall authorised staffing complement of the NEWB is 94, comprising 16 headquarters and support staff, five regional managers, 11 senior educational welfare officers and 62 educational welfare officers. Currently there are 48 educational welfare officers and 11 senior educational welfare officers serving with the board. The annual salaries of the 59 serving educational welfare officer staff amount to €3.1 million approximately.

The annual salary cost of employing an additional 300 educational welfare officers would be €15.7 million approximately. There would also be further costs incurred by the Exchequer arising from the recruitment of the additional officers such as the provision of accommodation and associated corporate services, IT facilities and travel and subsistence expenses.