Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 1

Written Answers - School Absenteeism.

Denis Naughten

Question:

327 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the current procedures for addressing truancy; the measures which can be taken when a child is not registered with any school; when he intends to have the school attendance officer service fully functional; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5318/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The National Educational Welfare Board is now the single national body with responsibility for school attendance matters. It is an independent statutory body, established under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, to implement the provisions of the Act. The board has responsibility for ensuring that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The board is required to assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in ensuring that their children attend school regularly, and will also assist schools in fulfilling their role under the Act. Through the appointment of educational welfare officers the board will provide a welfare focused service that is accessible to parents, school and others concerned with the welfare of young people.

Where a child is not attending school or is not otherwise in receipt of a certain minimum education, the board will investigate the case, establish the reasons for non-attendance and then work collaboratively with the family, schools and others concerned with the child's welfare in order to ensure that the child either attends school or otherwise receives an appropriate education. The board also has the legal power to compel a parent to send his/her child to school. However, this power will only be used where all other measures have failed and where the board is of the view that the parent has not made all reasonable efforts in this regard. The new service will be introduced on a phased basis commencing this year. The former school attendance officers have transferred to the board and a small number of head office staff, who will manage and develop the service, are currently being recruited.

I have provided a budget of €5.244 million for the new service in 2003 and I am confident that this provision will enable the board to recruit a significant number of educational welfare officers in 2003. I have requested an action plan from the board that will outline how its budget will be spent. When I have received and examined this plan I will then consider future commitments to the new service.