Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of counties in the country that have no educational welfare officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27410/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The National Educational Welfare Board is developing a nationwide service on a continuing basis that is accessible to schools, parents/guardians and others concerned with the welfare of young people. For this purpose, Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) have been deployed throughout the country to provide a welfare-focused service to support regular school attendance and discharge the Board's functions locally operating through 5 regional teams, with bases in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. An additional 15 staff have been allocated to the NEWB in 2007. This brings the current authorised staffing of the Board to 109 posts of which 90 are allocated to working directly in the service delivery area. The staffing complement is comprised of 19 HQ and support staff, 5 regional managers, 13 Senior EWO's and 72 EWO's.

Educational Welfare Officers play a pivotal role in implementing the service provided by the NEWB through monitoring school attendance and working to improve it. The EWOs also help parents that are experiencing a difficulty with getting a school place for their child. The NEWB has advised that the matter for additional resources for all areas is kept under continuous review. Areas are prioritized for additional service based on a combined analysis of demographic data, absence data reported from schools and other indicators of disadvantage. A service is provided from 26 locations nationwide. Staff are deployed in areas of greatest disadvantage and in areas designated under the Government's RAPID programme.

In addition to the intensive service provided in designated areas the Board follows up on urgent cases nationally where children are not currently receiving an education. Urgent cases include children who are out of school; children with no school place; children who have been refused enrolment in school; where a school principal contacts the NEWB with an expression of concern about a pupil or children who have been excluded or suspended on a long term basis from school.

In respect of the Deputy's specific question relating to the number of counties throughout the country that have no educational welfare officer. I am informed by the Board that the service is currently available to every county with a dedicated officer appointed to all counties with the exception of counties Roscommon and Leitrim. This matter will be addressed through the recruitment process currently underway to fill the additional EWO posts as one of these posts has been designated to cover the Roscommon / Leitrim area.

This government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure that every child gets all the opportunities and support they need to enable them to achieve their potential and participate fully in education. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that funding to the Board for 2007 amounted to €9.808 million. This represents an increase of 20% on the 2006 allocation and of 50% on the 2004 level. This substantial increase in funding is a clear indication of this Government's commitment to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk. Through increased investment and improved services we are determined to optimise access, participation and educational outcomes at every level of the system for disadvantaged groups.

I will be keeping the issue of the NEWB's staffing under review in light of the rollout of services, the scope for integrated working and any proposals that the Board may put to me in relation to clearly identified priority needs.