Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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601. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of appeals against expulsions from post-primary schools initiated by the Child and Family Agency under the provision section 10(b) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 for each of the school years 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11138/25]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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602. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-primary students expelled from school during the school years 2022/23 and 2023/24; the rate of post-primary expulsion for the school years 2022/23 and 2023/24; the number of post-primary section 29 expulsion appeals during the school years 2022/23 and 2023/24; the rate of post-primary section 29 expulsion appeals for the school years 2022/23 and 2023/24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11140/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 602 together.

As both questions from the Deputy are in relation to a similar topic related to Section 29 appeals, I will combine the two questions and issue one reply that addresses both questions.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 as amended by Section 7 of the Education (Admissions to schools) Act 2018 provides for an appeal, where a board of management, or a person acting on behalf of the board of management (normally the school principal) refuses to admit a student to a school, suspends a student for not less than 20 days or permanently excludes a student.

The Education Welfare Act 2000 was amended by Section 10 of the Education Act to allow the Child and Family Agency to appoint a person to appeal decisions of the board of management referenced above for children and young people in their care.

Within each appeal type, there is a provision for the hearing committee to allow or disallow or refuse to hear or determine the appeal before them. Section 29 F (1) sets out the circumstances that allows a committee to refuse to determine an appeal in the following but not limited to the following circumstances:

- It is of the opinion of the committee that the appeal is vexatious, frivolous an abuse of process or without substance or foundation

- An appeal has not been made within the period specified in procedures under Section 29B

- An applicant has failed to provide information in accordance with procedures under Section 29B

An appeal committee of three persons is appointed to consider each appeal.

The figures provided in the following table include all appeals relating to exclusions in post-primary schools applied for under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended) where an appeal was initiated by the Child and Family agency.

The figures provided in the following table include all appeals relating to exclusions in post-primary schools applied for under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended).

Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 schools are obliged to submit a number of reports and notifications that relate to poor school attendance to Tusla Education Service (TESS) on an annual basis. This includes information on absences of more than 20 days and also the number of students who have been suspended or expelled during the school year. School Absence Reports and Annual Absence Reports for 2022/2023 will be published by TESS shortly. The reports will be available on their website at: www.tusla.ie/services/educational-welfareservices/publications/research-and-statistics/

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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603. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide the most recent job specification for educational welfare officers within the Tusla education support service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11141/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In line with the arrangements set out as part of the current Government formation, since January 2021 Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is under the remit of my Department.

TESS has three strands namely the statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and the two school support services, the Home School Community Liaison Scheme and the School Completion Programme. The three TESS strands work together collaboratively with schools, families and other relevant services to achieve the best educational outcomes for children and young people.

The EWS operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. This 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. Educational welfare officers (EWO's) work with families and children in a child-centered way to overcome barriers to their school attendance, participation and retention. They also 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.

In Budget 2024 funding for TESS was increased which allowed for the recruitment of an additional 50 staff, with most taking place at EWO level. The most recent EWO recruitment campaign opened on 16th January 2025 with a closing date of 4th February 2025. The most recent Senior EWO recruitment campaign opened on 6th February 2025 with a closing date of 3rd March 2025. The job specifications for both roles are set out at the following links: