Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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11. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps he will take to expand the role of the National Educational Welfare Board by liaising with other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42648/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The National Educational Welfare Service was established under Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, on 1 January 2014. This brought together the statutory functions and educational welfare programmes which had been under the remit of the then National Educational Welfare Board. These include the statutory Educational Welfare Officers service, the School Completion Programme and the Home School Community Liaison scheme. The reorganisation of services is part of a new integrated response to meet the needs of children at risk of disadvantage, including educational disadvantage.

Tusla has a wide ranging remit in services to protect children, support families and secure good outcomes for children who are at risk of disadvantage including educational disadvantage. Tusla has strong cooperation arrangements in place with relevant Government departments and agencies to support this role. At national level, Tusla works as part of the Children and Young Peoples Policy Consortium, which comprises high level representation from Government departments and agencies to drive the implementation of Better Outcomes Brighter Futures 2014-2020, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People. At local level, Tusla works with cross sectoral interests in the Children and Young Peoples Services Committees throughout the country.

In my view, Tusla’s role, encompassing the key educational welfare programmes, along with its focus on child and family welfare, presents an opportunity to shape more effective policy and practice that will help to address educational disadvantage.

Tusla has taken a number of actions to strengthen the operation of its education welfare programmes, to integrate them at both national and local level, and to build strong links with relevant agencies and Government departments, as part of a ‘whole child’ approach to meeting the needs of children and their families. Tusla works closely with my Department and with the Department of Education and Skills to achieve these aims.

My Department will participate in the Inter Departmental Group thatthe Minister for Education and Skills is establishing on the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme. Tusla will have a key role in the work of the Group to deliver support in a ‘joined up way’ and secure improved outcomes for children at risk of educational disadvantage.