Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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39. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of educational welfare officers in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by county; her plans to increase these numbers; if schools can apply for additional educational welfare officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49224/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As the Deputy may be aware, Tusla Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) work with young people who are experiencing difficulty with school attendance and their families. EWOs are employed throughout the country, working with all recognised schools to offer advice and guidance to parents who need support in ensuring that their child attends school regularly. I am attaching a document containing the information in relation to the number of EWO's for 2015 to 2018 per county as requested by the Deputy.

I am also advised by Tusla EWS that seven further EWOs are in the process of being recruited, four of whom will be allocated to work with the Traveller and Roma communities, on a pilot programme aimed at improving the retention and participation of Traveller and Roma children in schools. This initiative is an action outlined in the National Traveller and Roma Integration Strategy, 2017 - 2021.

EWOs are not assigned to individual schools, therefore schools cannot apply for additional EWOs. However, schools can make a referral to Tusla EWS and an EWO will be allocated the case providing it is an appropriate referral.