Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
301. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has collected data in relation to the problem of early school leaving, suspension or exclusion of students from schools in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5157/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to early school leaving, my Department has the retention rates by county order only. The full report is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Retention-Rates-of-Pupils-in-Second-Level-Schools-2005-and-2006-Entry-Cohorts.My Department has been advised by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs that 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 that Department on the levels of school attendance each year. The most recent data currently available is for the 2009/2010 school year. The series of reports is available in full on the website of the NEWB at www.newb.ie. The Board advises that data is not collated in such a way as to allow all the breakdowns requested by the Deputy.
