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School Absenteeism.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004

Tuesday, 6 July 2004

Questions (275)

David Stanton

Question:

307 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason he did not supply the specific information requested in Parliamentary Question No. 162 of 30 June 2004, that is the number of prosecutions relating to school attendance in 2003 up to the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board; the number of such prosecutions in 2002, 2001 and 2000; if he will now make this information available; and the number of these prosecutions in each of the respective years mentioned which resulted in convictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20523/04]

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Written answers

The published data in my Department's annual statistical reports indicate that the number of children committed to care, under the Children Acts 1908 to 1957, due to non-attendance at school, were eight in 2000, 16 in 2001 and ten in 2002. Data in respect of 2003 are not yet available.

Responsibility for the enforcement of school attendance rested with four local authorities in the cities of Dublin, Cork and Waterford and with the gardai for the remainder of the country prior to the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board in July 2002. My Department has sought data on the number of prosecutions relating to school attendance for 2000 to 2002 from these agencies and will arrange to make it available to the Deputy.

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