The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board as the statutory body with responsibility for school attendance. The general functions of the board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The board's service has developed incrementally and the board now has a total of 109 sanctioned posts. Some 90 posts are allocated in the direct service delivery, of which 85 are currently filled. The board operates through five regional teams at 30 locations nationwide. The budget allocation to the board has also followed an incremental trend, as follows: 2003; €4.310 million; 2004, €6.514 million; 2005, €7.838 million; 2006, €8.150 million; 2007, €9.808 million; and 2008, €10.085 million.
The board's network of educational welfare officers is the key means by which the board delivers on its statutory remit to ensure that each child attends and benefits from education. The officers deal with approximately 10,000 cases, involving children with reported school attendance difficulties, per annum. They work closely with the family, the school and other support services to address the particular issues for each child. In line with Government policy, the board prioritises its resources to support the most disadvantaged areas and schools participating in DEIS, the action plan for educational inclusion. The officers provide an intensive service in those areas. Outside of those areas, priority is given to children who are out of school or have significant difficulties with school attendance. The many reasons for non-attendance are complex. For example, some parents fail to enrol their child in a school or ensure that their child attends school regularly.
I have been advised by the National Educational Welfare Board that legal action for non-attendance at school is only taken when all other steps have failed and following consultation with the school and other services. Court action must ultimately be in the best interests of the child. A school attendance notice is the first step in enforcing the law. When a notice is issued, the situation is monitored and the parent is given every opportunity to address the underlying issues. Occasionally, the involvement of other services with the family may be sufficient to bring about change. In exceptional cases, if there is no change and the child remains out of school, the board will consider taking a prosecution. The first notices for non-attendance at school issued in 2005. A total of 460 notices issued between 2005 and the end of 2007. The provisional data available for 2008 indicate that approximately 315 notices issued during 2008. When a notice is issued, the board monitors the situation and gives the parent an opportunity to address the underlying causes of poor attendance. Occasionally, the involvement of other services with the family may be sufficient to bring about a change. The first legal cases for non-attendance under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 were heard in the District Courts in 2006. In 2006 and 2007, some 89 summonses were issued against parents in respect of 53 children. Provisional data for 2008 indicate that 51 summonses were issued in 2008 in respect of 34 children. This brings the number of summonses issued against parents by the board since its establishment to 140, relating to 87 children.