Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

822. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the options open to a person (details supplied). [45510/25]

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

Tusla Education Support Service (TESS), which includes the statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS), is under the remit of my department since 2021 and operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention.

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 will work in a welfare orientated approach 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 educational welfare of children and young people and to ensure that concerns around attendance are addressed before attendance becomes a crisis issue.

My Department has been advised by TESS, that this is an open allocated case with the EWS and an EWO has engaged with the parents to provide advice and support. The EWO has advised of home tuition options and advice regarding exploring other schools outside the immediate area. The EWO will continue to support the parents to secure a school placement for the child referred to in the question.