Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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303. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of whole-time equivalent education welfare officers employed by the education welfare office in the north and south Dublin regions; the location and catchment area that each officer within these regions covers; the child population served in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42837/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Educational Welfare Service of Tusla has advised my Department that it currently employs 12.2 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) in North Dublin and 14.5 FTE EWOs in South Dublin. This averages out as 8,882 students per officer in North Dublin and 8,113 in South Dublin. The EWOs are divided among four teams, each of which is managed by a Senior Educational Welfare Officer (SEWO). Referrals from schools, parents and other agencies are received by EWS and allocated to EWOs by the SEWO. In Quarter 1 2019 there will be 2 additional EWOs for North Dublin and 2 additional EWOs for South Dublin recruited and this will reduce the average student population per EWO in North Dublin to 7,631 and in South Dublin to 7,129.

The most recent school enrolment figures from September 2017 show 225,993 students enrolled in schools in North and South Dublin combined. Referrals are allocated to EWOs by the SEWO on a team basis and areas where most referrals are received are given priority.

Further information regarding location and catchment area is set out in the Appendix.

Dublin North – Areas/EWO FTE/Student Enrolment Figures

Dublin South – Areas/EWO FTE/Student Enrolment Figures