Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
419. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the number of home school liaison officers and home completion officers that are based in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area, by location, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71342/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme and the School Completion Programme (SCP) are two key supports provided by my department as part of the overall Delivering Equality of Opportunity in School (DEIS) programme. Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) manage the HSCL scheme and the SCP on behalf of my department.
The HSCL scheme seeks to promote partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services, with a view to supporting improved attendance, participation and retention. SCP plays a critical role in supporting children and young people of school going age to stay in school and to tackle school absenteeism.
All DEIS urban primary schools and all DEIS post-primary schools are included in the HSCL scheme, which currently serves 687 DEIS schools, catering for approximately 207,000 children and young people. The scheme is delivered by 528 full-time HSCL coordinators assigned to HSCL duties either in individual schools or in clusters of schools. HSCL coordinators are released from teaching duties, for a maximum of five years, in order to work intensively with and support parents/guardians. The overarching goal of the HSCL coordinator is to improve educational outcomes for children through their work with the key adults in the child’s life.
In addition, a pilot project to support Traveller and Roma pupils, under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, is in operation in 4 locations with 1 HSCL coordinator assigned in each location. A further 10 HSCL coordinators support attendance, participation and retention among Traveller and Roma students, across 14 non-DEIS post-primary schools.
In the 2025/26 school year there are 14 HSCL coordinators employed across DEIS schools in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area.
Local SCP projects operate under the management and direction of a Local Management Committee (LMC). The LMC is responsible for the oversight of the project delivery at local level, including the use of project resources, employment of staff, and accountability for public funds.
The SCP staffing levels in the four SCP projects operating in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area, as sought by the Deputy are provided in the table below.
|
SCP Project |
Postcode |
Total No of SCP Staff per project |
|
Balally/Dundrum SCP |
D16 |
4 |
|
Ballinteer/Ballyboden SCP |
D16 |
2 |
|
Cabinteely Area SCP |
D16 |
5 |
|
Mounttown/Sallynoggin SCP |
Co. Dublin |
3 |
|
|
Totals |
14 |
