asked the Minister for Justice if any guidelines are issued to the Garda Síochána in respect of (a) methods of gathering information regarding non-attendance at school and (b) the frequency of inspection of school attendance registers in schools in order to comply with the responsibilities under the School Attendance Act; and the average frequency of visits to schools for this purpose.
Written Answers. - Non-Attendance at School.
50.
Under the terms of the School Attendance Act, 1926, school attendance committees are the enforcing authorities for the purpose of the Act in the county boroughs of Dublin, Cork and Waterford and in Dún Laoghaire Borough. In all other areas the enforcing authority for the purpose of the Act is a member of the Garda Síochána who has been designated as a school attendance officer.
Under the Act and the rules for national schools principal teachers are obliged to communicate prescribed particulars of every child absent from school and of such absences to the enforcing authorities.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that members of the Garda Síochána designated as school attendance officers liaise closely with principal teachers and visit schools on a regular basis. Statistics about the frequency of such visits are not readily available and could be compiled specially only at the cost of a disproportionate amount of scarce Garda resources.
My colleague, the Minister for Education, indicated in response to a parliamentary question on 26 October last that she proposes to consider the question of reviewing the School Attendance Act in the light of recommendations of the Primary Review Body when they report to her.