Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the staffing issues within the School Completion Programme in south Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33248/23]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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212. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the value of staffing resources that were allocated to the School Completion Programme in South Kildare in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the value of the staffing resources spent, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33249/23]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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213. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm how many students in south Kildare were supported through the School Completion Programme in south Kildare in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33250/23]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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214. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she has taken to solve the staffing issues in the school completion programme in south Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33251/23]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how many staff members were employed to support the School Completion Programme in south Kildare in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33252/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 211, 212, 213, 214 and 215 together.

In relation to the questions submitted by the Deputy regarding South Kildare School Completion Programme it has been clarified that Newbridge SCP is the programme to which the Deputy refers to.

On 1 January 2021, responsibility for education welfare functions, including the administration of the home school community liaison scheme and the school completion programme, SCP, transferred from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to my Department. The SCP forms part of the Tusla education support service, TESS. While the arrangements between Tusla and the SCP are not impacted by the change in ministerial responsibility, Tusla now reports to my Department in respect of the SCP, which is funded by my Department via Tusla.

The SCP was introduced in 2002 and the programme is now a central element of DEIS, a key policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level. There are currently 122 school completion projects with local management committees (LMC). At present, management of the school completion programme initiatives, including the employment of staff, occurs at local level.

Officials from my Department have been advised that TESS has engaged with the LMC of Newbridge SCP and senior managers in Kildare/Wicklow ETB in relation to current staffing issues. Further engagement has been scheduled between TESS and the Newbridge LMC to seek a resolution in relation to these issues. TESS continue to be available to provide any further support and guidance required. Officials from my Department continue to engage pro-actively with all stakeholders to find a solution locally that enables the continuance of this valuable service.

Staffing numbers

The staffing numbers for Newbridge SCP for 2020, 2021 and 2022 are as follows:

To date in 2023, two of the above named posts are filled in Newbridge SCP. Funding remains in place to support the running of the SCP programme in Newbridge and TESS is continuing to engage with the SCP and senior managers in Kildare/Wicklow ETB to resolve issues in relation to staffing for 2023 to ensure that the School Completion Programme continues to provide valuable supports and services. Working to find solutions with stakeholders, it is the intention of TESS to provide a range of services in the area broadly in line with those available in previous years.

Value of resources (end year figures)

Note: the total funding figure includes pay and non-pay costs. Non pay costs are associated with the running of various initiatives and interventions associated with the programme.

2023

In 2023 TUSLA will provide 223,789 euro total funding to Newbridge SCP. This figure includes pay and non-pay costs. 185,000 euro has been allocated as a full year employment cost for project co-ordinator, project workers and sessional workers.

Work is ongoing between TESS and Newbridge LMC and senior staff in Kildare Wicklow ETB to resolve issues relating to filling the vacant posts and to ensure that the level of service provided is broadly in line with previous years by the end 2023.

Numbers of children and young people receiving support

The number of students in south Kildare that were supported through the School Completion Programme in 2020, 2021 and 2022

Since my Department took over responsibility for the school completion programme in January 2021, the initial focus has been on the development of the legislative platform to support the transfer of functions from DCEDIY. This body of work has now been completed and the next body of work will consider all other aspects of the programme, including governance and structures for SCP and all matters involved therein.