asked the Minister for Justice the basis on which members of the Garda Síochána are appointed in rural areas to perform the functions of school attendance officers; and if it is his intention to reform this system.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Attendance Officers.
43.
The statutory basis for the performance of the functions in question by members of the Garda Síochána is the School Attendance Act, 1926. The question of reforming the system is a matter primarily for the Minister for Education.
Could consideration be given to removing this particular function from the Garda Síochána, in view of the fact that it is generally held that school attendance officers need specialised qualifications and specialised career guidance training and training in youth work? Would this work not be more appropriate to fulltime professional social workers rather than to the Garda Síochána who have presumably more than enough to do than to chase school records?
As I have already indicated, this is a matter for the Minister for Education.