Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of files that are waiting to be actioned by educational welfare officers in Dublin Fingal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23518/22]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of educational welfare officers who are assigned to cover Dublin Fingal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23519/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together.

The aims and objectives of the statutory educational welfare service are to ensure that every child either attends school regularly or otherwise receives a minimum education; to ensure and secure every child’s entitlement to education. This service is delivered by Educational Welfare Officers who work with families and children in a child-centred way to overcome barriers to their school attendance, participation and retention; and work closely with schools, educational support services and other agencies to support school attendance and resolve attendance problems for the benefit of children and families.

Fingal is covered by 2 of the 5 Educational Welfare Service regions. There are 7 Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) providing school attendance services to 155 schools across Fingal. Tusla does not currently publish regionalised data on waiting lists to the level requested by the Deputy. All students referred to the Educational Welfare Service are screened by a Senior Educational Welfare Officer on receipt and urgent referrals are prioritised for allocation, for example where a child has no school place or is at risk of expulsion.