Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 September 2012
202. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of children who were expelled from primary and second level schools during the academic year 2011-2012; the number of the children that were referred to the National Educational Welfare Board; the actions that were taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39716/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra203. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of children in second level schools who during the academic year 2011-2012, were absent from school for five to ten days; ten to 15 days; 15-20 days; and greater than 20 days; the number of these children who had their absence investigated by the National Educational Welfare Board; the actions that were taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39717/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra204. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide in tabular form the number of children in primary level schools who during the academic year 2011-2012, were absent from school for five to ten days, ten to 15 days, 15-20 days and greater than 20 days; the number of these children who had their absence investigated by the National Educational Welfare Board; the actions that were taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39718/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 202 to 204, inclusive, together.
Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 all recognised schools are obliged to submit an Annual Attendance Report to the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), which operates under the remit of my Department, on the levels of school attendance each year.
The Deputy may be aware that I launched the publication of the most recent data currently available, that being for the 2009/2010 school year, in June this year. This was the sixth in a series of reports based on data collected by the NEWB on non-attendance in primary and post-primary schools through the Annual Attendance Report. This data can be used to monitor the levels of attendance, exclusions and suspensions across all of the country’s primary and post-primary schools. The series of reports is available in full on the website of the NEWB at www.newb.ie. Data for the schools years 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 are currently being collated and verified with schools by the NEWB.
The data gathered describe absences reported to the NEWB in specific circumstances such as where a child is absent for 20 days or more, where a child is expelled or suspended for six days or more cumulatively, or where the school generally has concerns about the educational welfare of a child in accordance of the statutory requirements of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000. Accordingly, the Board advises that data are not collated in such a way as to allow all the breakdowns requested by the Deputy.
The NEWB advises that when a young person is referred to the Board by a school, parent or another agency the initial work of the Education Welfare Officer is to assess the nature, scope and depth of the problem. This action taken then falls into two distinct categories. The first is a brief intervention whereby low level intervention proportionate to the need of the individual case can often effectively resolve the issue, thus preventing attendance problems escalating. For example, this work includes assistance with finding a school place and advice and support around Section 29 Appeals, suspensions and expulsions. In 2011, the Board reports that it worked with 12,062 children and families in providing assistance at this level.
Problems of poor school attendance that are the manifestation of more complex and deep rooted difficulties can take significant time, expert help and on-going support from the NEWB to make progress. Such work can involve developing a plan with the family, young person and school to address the various barriers identified. These intensive interventions are used when brief interventions have not been successful, or are not appropriate in the circumstances. In 2011 there were a total of 3,845 children who received an intensive intervention from the Educational Welfare Service. I have requested the NEWB to forward a copy of the 2011/2012 analysis of school attendance data in primary and post-primary schools to the Deputy when it is available.
