Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of enquiries to Tulsa's education welfare officers in the north Kildare area on behalf of pupils refused places in local schools for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic calendars; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43686/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) is part of Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) and operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs), based throughout the country, deal with children and families who have difficulties in relation to school attendance, participation and retention. It is a statutory service and its primary role is to ensure that every child either attends school regularly or otherwise receives a certain minimum education, to ensure and secure every child’s entitlement to education.

The number of enquiries received by Tusla's Educational Welfare Service is not collated for statistical purposes.