Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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481. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if education welfare officers are permitted to extend their support to young people under the age of sixteen attending a Youthreach programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16719/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 Act provides 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 Act defines a child as being a person resident in the State who has reached the age of 6 years and who – (a) has not reached the age of 16 years, or (b) has not completed 3 years of post-primary education, whichever occurs later.

An Educational Welfare Officer will continue to support a young person who meets the above criteria including when they participate in a Youthreach programme.