Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

910. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 481 of 8 April 2025, the procedures in place to ensure certain individuals (details supplied) receive a certain minimum education as defined under the terms of the Educational Welfare Act 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19586/25]

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 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 has not reached the age of 16 years or has not completed 3 years of post-primary education, whichever occurs later.

Educational Welfare Officers work in a welfare orientated approach with students and their families who meet the above criteria to address and support attendance, participation and retention, including when they participate in a Youthreach programme.

Where a Youthreach centre or the parents/guardians of a child attending a Youthreach centre, has cause for concern over the child’s attendance, for whatever reason, and in spite of all efforts at resolution made in collaboration with parents, a formal educational welfare referral should be made to TESS. To access the services of an Educational Welfare Officer a referral must be made. Further information on school attendance reporting and referring is available to view at the following link: www.tusla.ie/tess/tess-ews/.