Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount in remuneration and expenses paid to members of publicly-appointed State boards, both public sector and semi-State, in 2011; his views that savings can be made in this area; the number of persons in total who sit on these boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4577/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is not possible to provide this information in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount that was made available to the National Education Welfare Board in 2010 and 2011 and the amount she expects to make available to the board in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3258/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware a number of children focused services from various sectors, including the National Educational Welfare Board, have been brought together under my responsibility since June 2011 so as to facilitate Government's objective to deliver an integrated and consistent approach in the development of policy and services aimed at children. The NEWB was established under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 as the statutory agency with responsibility to ensure that every child attends school regularly, or otherwise receives a certain minimum education.

With regard to allocations made available in previous years, €9,575,000 was made available in 2010 and €9,731,000 in 2011. In the course of the 2012 Estimates process it was my intention to ensure, insofar as possible, that resources to address educational disadvantage were protected so as to maintain support to those schools serving the most disadvantaged communities. For this reason I am pleased to advise the Deputy that an allocation of €9,622,000 is being made available to the Board in 2012.

This level of funding will enable the Board to deliver on its expanded remit which includes responsibility for the administration and management of the Home School Community Liaison Programme, the School Completion Programme, in addition to the Education Welfare Service. The Board is currently focused on developing an integrated school support service which can respond to the complexity of issues that impact on attendance, participation and retention in schools. The resources being made available in 2012 will support the implementation of a new integrated model of service for the 2012-2013 academic year. It is also anticipated that the integration of services will realise further operational efficiencies in 2012.