Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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293. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to correspondence from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9; if he will give close consideration to the matters raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8037/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme seeks to promote partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services, with a view to supporting improved attendance, participation and retention. A HSCL Coordinator is a teacher from a participating school who is released from teaching duties, for a maximum of five years, in order to work intensively with and support parents and guardians. The overarching goal of the HSCL Coordinator is to improve educational outcomes for children through their work with the key adults in the child’s life. HSCL is a school-based intervention provided to address the needs of students and their families in disadvantaged areas through acknowledging and developing the role of the parent as prime educator. This is achieved through targeting the families of students most at risk of educational disadvantage and putting in place a range of appropriate support interventions.

My officials, in conjunction with the TESS Integrated Services Manager, will engage with the principals of the schools in question in relation to the issues raised in the recent correspondence to my Department.