Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

266. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current number of full-time equivalent educational welfare officer positions in Waterford city and county; the number of these positions currently vacant; the timeline for filling these vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4073/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is under the remit of my Department. TESS operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. TESS has three strands namely the statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and the two school support services the Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme and the School Completion Programme (SCP).

The three TESS strands work together collaboratively with schools, parents and guardians and other relevant services to achieve the best educational outcomes for children and young people.

The primary role of the EWS 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.

Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) are based throughout the country and work with children, young people and their families who are experiencing difficulty with school attendance; this is done through, home visits, educational welfare conferences and collaboratively working with different agencies. The main priority of the work is around the welfare of children and young people and to ensure that concerns around attendance are addressed before attendance becomes a crisis issue.

There are three full-time equivalent EWO positions for Waterford city and county. These positions are currently vacant. A national recruitment campaign for EWOs is underway and a new EWO panel will be formed by early March. TESS expects the positions to be filled from this panel in May.

A Senior Educational Welfare Officer and a Duty EWO are currently providing service to Waterford city and county.