Vol. 443 No. 9
72 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the scale of the problem of absenteeism at Killinarden community school, Dublin 24, and the need to appoint a school attendance officer for this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
My attention has not been drawn to an absenteeism problem at Killinarden community school. I would not in the normal course expect to be appraised of school attendance matters in respect of any individual school. This arises because school attendance committees are responsible for the enforcement of the School Attendance Act in the County Borough of Dublin, the Boroughs of Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown, Cork and Waterford. In all other areas the Garda Síochána have responsibility. Consequently, schools are not obliged to make any returns to my Department on absenteeism.
The appointment of school attendance officers is in the first instance a matter for school attendance committees in areas where such committees exist. The appointments are subject to the approval of the local authority for the area and my function is to ultimately sanction appointments under the terms of the School Attendance Act. I have no role in the appointment of personnel in areas for which the Garda Síochána have responsibility.
