Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Oct 1995

Vol. 456 No. 8

Written Answers. - Absenteeism Rate.

Tony Gregory

Question:

52 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education the percentage rate of absenteeism and the number of children involved in each case from four schools (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and the percentage rate of the children concerned residing in the Cherry Orchard area of Dublin 10. [14741/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

My Department does not currently have available detailed or reliable data on the incidence of absenteeism in the schools referred to by the Deputy.

On the last occasion on which comprehensive data on school attendance/absenteeism was collected, in 1983-84, the average daily attendance was fairly constant at 90 per cent to 91 per cent.

The Deputy will be aware that I published the report of my Department's Working Group on Truancy in April 1994. One of the issues highlighted in that report was the absence of adequate data on school attendance and the working group made a number of recommendations in relation to this matter.

Following the publication of the truancy report, my Department received a range of submissions from interested parties on the measures which should now be taken to address this very difficult area.

In keeping with its commitment to address the problems of truancy and early drop-out, the Government appointed Minister of State, Deputy Currie with special responsibility for this area. The Minister of State subsequently announced the establishment of a Task Force, the terms of reference of which are to: examine the submissions received from interested parties in response to the report on truancy, and consider and make recommendations as to future action required to address the problem of truancy at first and second level.

The work of the Truancy Task Force is well advanced and it is anticipated that its final report will be presented to the Minister of State Deputy Currie, shortly.