Seán Power
Question:56 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Education if she has satisfied herself with the current monitoring of attendance in primary and secondary schools countrywide. [17089/95]
Written Answers. - School Attendance.
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 monitoring and data on school attendance. 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 the Minister of State, Deputy Austin 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 nearing finalisation.