Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Circular 0058/2003 stipulates that the home school community liaison co-ordinator can only be in their positions for five years; the reason they cannot reapply for the position immediately rather than having to wait four years; if this stipulation adds further costs to his Department as a result of having to retrain suitable candidates every five years; if the five year limit fails to ensure the best results for families as a result of changes to the coordinator throughout their school life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39057/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Department Circular 0058/2013 "Assignment of HSCL Coordinators within DEIS schools" informs all DEIS Urban Primary and DEIS Post Primary school management and staff regarding the process for assigning teachers as HSCL Coordinators. The contents of the Circular were agreed with teacher unions and management bodies.

One of the basic requirement of the HSCL Scheme since its inception is the rotation of the HSCL post among eligible staff in the school or school cluster of schools at regular intervals, currently 5 years. The rotation of the post gives eligible staff members within the school the opportunity to serve as HSCL Coordinator and to gain an insight and develop experience of educational disadvantage first hand.

Rotation of the HSCL post helps to build capacity within the teaching staff in the important area of parental engagement. The HSCL role provides an understanding of the challenges in the home background and community life of particular pupils. The experience gained over the 5 year period is in turn brought back into the school to complement teaching and learning in the classroom.

Under the terms of Circular 0058/2013, having served the maximum period of 5 years allowed in the post, an existing HSCL Coordinator must vacate the HSCL position for a minimum period of 4 years before being eligible to reapply for a HSCL assignment. This gives other staff members the opportunity to apply for the HSCL assignment and ensures that a HSCL Coordinator returning to the classroom has the opportunity to re-engage with the curriculum and other relevant areas before re-applying for the HSCL post.

Whilst serving in the role of HSCL, all HSCL Coordinators continue to avail of appropriate in-career development and training.

There is no additional cost to my Department in the rotation of the HSCL post as this has always been a condition of the HSCL assignment in participating DEIS schools.