Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there have been any further developments in the home-school community liaison programme; if there will be any changes to it in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15900/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) is managed by the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) alongside the School Completion Programme (SCP) and the Education Welfare Service (EWS) as part of the Integration of Education Services Project. The aim and rationale for the Integrated Service is to provide more effective services for children who have difficulties participating in school; improved engagement with other agencies and services working with children and families; more effective policy making with an increased emphasis on planning, outcome measurement and the gathering of evidence on the impact of interventions.

A number of children' services, from various sectors, including the National Education Welfare Board are being brought together under the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Responsibility for SCP and NEWB, together with their budgets have transferred to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs with effect from 2 June 2011. While responsibility for the future direction of Home School Community Liaison has also transferred, the allocation of HSCL coordinator posts will remain the responsibility of my Department as these are teaching posts in schools, deployed to undertake full time HSCL duties.

The current provision of Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Services, will remain in the 200 post primary and 345 urban primary schools participating in DEIS.

With regard to the filling of current HSCL coordinator vacancies in schools, officials of my Department are in contact with these schools in relation to the additional arrangements necessary this year to facilitate the redeployment of any remaining permanent and CID holding teachers on redeployment panels. My Department will not decide until later this week at the earliest in relation to giving schools authority to commence recruitment in any other manner.