Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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798. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the impact of homelessness on the educational welfare of a homeless primary school pupil (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the steps taken to assist this pupil's education. [28856/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As you may be aware responsibility for school attendance and educational welfare falls within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

It should also be noted that, with effect from January 2014, the Educational Welfare Service is now administered by TUSLA on behalf of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA). The Educational Welfare Service has statutory powers to work with children and their families who may be experiencing difficulty with school attendance caused by any underlying issues including homelessness. Therefore this matter has not been brought to my direct attention.

The underlying issue of homelessness which is reported as impacting on a child's educational welfare falls within the remit of my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) who has overall responsibility for housing services for all homeless people.

Officials of my Department have been in contact with officials of DCYA and DECLG and have forwarded the details supplied by the Deputy.