Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1017: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the schools to be affected by the loss of 62 home-school community liaison posts from September 2009 under the home-school community liaison scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10833/09]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1018: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10834/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1017 and 1018 together.

Following the introduction of DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), a commitment was given, as a concessionary measure, to Non-DEIS schools in receipt of resources under pre-existing schemes, including the Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) service, that they would retain a level of support in line with their size and disadvantage levels for the duration of the DEIS Initiative.

Given the current volatile and challenging economic climate, difficult choices had to be made in order to contain public sector spending. One of these decisions is the withdrawal of the HSCL services from all Non-DEIS schools with effect from September 2009.

The main focus of Social Inclusion measures will be to retain resources in DEIS schools. There is a need to focus targeted resources on the schools in most need and this approach is in line with the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General which are set out in his report on Primary Disadvantage of 2006, which recommended that my Department should focus its educational disadvantage measures on those schools serving the most disadvantaged communities.

A list of the Non-DEIS schools losing HSCL services at the current school year will be forwarded to the Deputy separately.