Vol. 474 No. 1
126 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education the role and function of school attendance officers; if they deal with both primary and secondary schools; if she will give the names and contact number of the officers dealing with postal districts in Dublin 1, 3, 5 and 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2432/97]
School attendance officers are employed by school attendance committees who have responsibility for the enforcement of the school attendance legislation in certain parts of Dublin, Cork and Waterford. In all other areas the Garda Síochána have that responsibility.
While their statutory role and function relates to the enforcement of compulsory school attendance for children aged six to 15 years, the school attendance officer's role also has an education welfare dimension.
Each school attendance officer visits the primary and second level schools in his area and identifies problem attenders by monitoring attendance records. Initially a school attendance officer will attempt to deal with a persistent case of non-attendance by establishing a trustworthy relationship with the parent and child. In the more serious cases the process may progress to parents being issued with a formal warning and, where all other avenues have been tried and failed, the parents may be brought to court.
Details of the school attendance officers for Dublin and their areas of responsibility can be got by contacting the chief school attendance officer, Liffey House, Tara Street, Dublin 2.
