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School Absenteeism

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 June 2011

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

Questions (516, 517)

Robert Dowds

Question:

532 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide the figures on the absentee rate of 20 days or more at secondary schools (details supplied). [15709/11]

View answer

Robert Dowds

Question:

533 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide the figures on the absentee rate of 20 days or more at primary schools (details supplied). [15710/11]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 533 together.

It is not the policy of the National Education Welfare Board or my Department to make available data on absenteeism in individual schools or in schools in a particular local area due to concerns about the way such information may be used to create school league tables.

The underlying problems that militate against children and young people benefiting from education and reaching their potential are multifaceted and diverse and often the first indicator to these problems can be poor attendance and participation in school. Early interventions are key to reversing many of the underlying issues. Efforts have been greatly intensified in recent years to support and keep more young people in school so that they gain real benefits from their education experience.

The NEWB has a responsibility to promote regular attendance at school and has adopted a multifaceted approach to meet this obligation, including raising awareness of the importance of school attendance among the community, providing information to parents, families and schools, commissioning research and disseminating findings, organising local and national campaigns in cooperation with schools and statutory and non-statutory agencies and contributing to policy formulation on education and related matters.

While responsibility for the NEWB has transferred to my Department, the two Departments will work together to ensure that the services in the NEWB, including the SCP, HSCL and the EWS will have a renewed focus to more effectively target and support all children at risk.

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