Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

125. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount it costs to run education and welfare boards. [43858/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), which operates under the auspices of my Department, has a statutory remit to ensure that 'each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education'. In particular, the NEWB has a key role to respond to instances where children are not attending school regularly, or where there is concern about a child's educational welfare.

Funding of €8.753 million has been made available to the National Educational Welfare Board in 2013. This level of funding will enable the Board to deliver on its expanded remit which includes responsibility for the operational management and strategic direction of the Home School Community Liaison Scheme and the School Completion Programme, in addition to the Education Welfare Service. The Board is currently focused on delivering integrated educational welfare services based on the principle of One Team, One Child, One Plan which can respond to the complexity of issues that impact on attendance, participation and retention in schools.