Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding plans to absorb the home school liaison service and Traveller support services into the functions of the National Education Welfare Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21038/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), which was established under the Educational Welfare act 2000, is just one aspect of the comprehensive framework that this Government has put in place to improve school attendance, to encourage more young people to finish school and to support parents and the wider community in addressing the individual needs of children at risk of educational exclusion. The Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL) is a school-based preventative strategy which is targeted at building the capacity of parents and guardians of pupils who are at risk of not reaching their potential in the education system because of background characteristics which tend to affect adversely pupil attainment and school retention. The School Completion Programme (SCP) is targeted at young people between the ages of 4 and 18 years who are at risk of early school leaving. SCP involves an integrated services approach based on the development of local strategies to ensure maximum participation levels in the education process. HSCL and SCP are available to all schools participating in DEIS. The Visiting Teacher Service for Travellers (VTST) works to promote, facilitate and support the education of Travellers from pre-school to third level access.

On 18 May I announced plans to expand the remit of the National Educational Welfare Board, from 1 September 2009, to include responsibility for the Home School Community Liaison Scheme and the School Completion Programme as well as Visiting Teacher Service for Traveller pupils. Under its expanded roll the Board will bring together the individual services under one common management team. The Board will be responsible for the development of a single strategic approach, reflecting equally the nature and strengths of each of the services and provide for more focussed service delivery at local, regional and national levels. This integrated approach is part of the Government's overall approach to Transforming Public Services announced in November 2008.

As Minister with responsibility for Educational Disadvantage, I am committed to securing significant improvements in school attendance and school retention rates. Supporting parents and pupils will help to encourage those most at risk of experiencing difficulties to remain engaged within their schools and, by ensuring that these supports are fully integrated and coordinated, I am confident that significant improvements can be achieved. Furthermore, I am committed to the full integration of Traveller Children within the mainstream school environment, as envisaged in the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education strategy 2006. This integrated approach will significantly benefit service delivery to children and their families and assist schools in meeting the challenges they face in tackling poor attendance and early school leaving.

The full benefits of this integration will undoubtedly take some time to be realised. However I consider that bringing together these significant resources, under a common management structure will also deliver some immediate benefits through improved targeting and appropriate responses for children at risk of early school leaving or poor attendance, reduction or elimination of any overlap that may currently exist and strengthening the Board to deliver upon its objectives.