Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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325. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the courses that were run by the home school community liaison coordinators for parents during the academic school year 2013-2014; and the number of parents who attended each course. [43834/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Since its establishment on 1 January 2014, the Child and Family Agency under the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has operational responsibility for the Home School-Community Liaison Scheme along with the statutory Educational Welfare Service and the School Completion Programme.

The Home-School-Community Liaison Scheme is an integral part of the Department of Education and Skills DEIS strategy to combat educational disadvantage. The scheme provides targeted supports for the development of collaboration and partnership between the parents and teachers of children who are at risk of educational disadvantage as indicated by poor school attendance, participation and early school leaving.

As part of their preventative work, local Home-School Community Liaison coordinators attached to individual schools or school clusters facilitate courses and classes for parents to help them support their children's engagement with school. A wide range of courses and activities are arranged for parents including further education, second chance education, support for their children’s learning through, for example, literacy and numeracy activities, personal and parenting skills development, leisure events and in-school events such as a science night, grandparent's events and open evenings.

In addition Home-School-Community Liaison coordinators refer parents to courses run locally by other agencies. Many courses for parents focus on building parent's self esteem and confidence to engage with schools to help them become actively and purposely involved in their children's education.

I am advised by the Agency that national data on courses provided and on participation levels by parents is not readily available but that some sample data on activities is available which may assist the Deputy. Information from a sample of approximately 200 Home-School Community Liaison coordinators for the academic year 2013/2014 showed that, across schools served by those coordinators, a total of 20,432 parents had taken part in courses and other relevant activities in that academic year.

I have asked the Agency to provide the additional information to the Deputy.