Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2021
94. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the number of children who were notified to Tusla for school absence caused by Covid-19 or tests for same in 2020; the number of children notified to Tusla by their schools for school absence in each of the years 2017 to 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16123/21]
View answerSchools are obliged to submit school returns to Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) twice annually, providing information related to all students who have missed 20 or more school days. When submitting these returns schools are asked to outline if such absences are explained or unexplained. Explained absences are generally for reasons such as illness or bereavement. When a student is absent from school due to illness and the parent(s)/guardian(s) provide the school with appropriate information/medical certificates to explain the absences, the school records these absences as explained absences due to illness.
TESS is aware that since March 2020 students may have been absent from school due to Covid-19, either where the student is self-isolating or where the student may have contracted Covid-19. In such cases once the school is informed these absences are recorded as explained absences.
In relation to data for prior years the following is the data available:
In the 2016/2017 school year 11.8% of primary school students were absent for 20 or more school days and 14.7% of post-primary students were absent for 20 or more days.
In the 2017/2018 school year 12.1% of primary school students were absent for 20 or more school days and 14.6% of post-primary students were absent for 20 or more days.
Data from the 2018/2019 school year is currently being collated and the Annual Attendance Report for this academic year will be available in May 2021.
Further data is accessible in the Annual Attendance Reports that are available at https://www.tusla.ie/services/educational-welfare-services/publications/research-and-statistics/.
