Vol. 473 No. 5
121 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education the current regulations for school attendance; the submissions, if any, she has received on this matter; the current position regarding the proposed school attendance legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1858/97]
Current regulations for school attendance are based on the School Attendance Act, 1926 and subsequent amendments. Among the provisions of that Act is an obligation on parents to have their children attend school from the age of six years to fifteen years.
Following the publication in 1994 of the school attendance-truancy report, I established a task force on truancy in the Department to examine the submissions received from interested parties in response to the truancy report and to consider and make recommendations as to future action required to address the problem of truancy at first and second levels.
The task force examined a significant number of submissions from a wide range of interested parties. I will shortly be deciding on the further action which will have to be taken, including the publication of new school attendance legislation.
