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School Attendance

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 February 2014

Tuesday, 4 February 2014

Ceisteanna (596, 597)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

596. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children under 17 years of age, with a breakdown based on the children’s ages and the counties in which they reside, who are currently not in full-time education; and the number of children who are currently in receipt of home tuition, with a breakdown based on the children’s ages and the counties in which they reside. [5107/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

597. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children under 17 years of age, with a breakdown based on the children’s ages and the counties in which they reside, who were not in full-time education in the years 2012 and 2013; and if she will provide the number of children in receipt of home tuition for the years 2012 and 2013 with a breakdown based on the children’s ages and the counties in which they reside. [5119/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 596 and 597 together.

The functions of the former National Educational Welfare Board, including the monitoring of school attendance, are now part of the new Child and Family Agency, which was established on 1 January 2014. Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 all recognised schools are obliged to submit an Annual Attendance Report on the levels of school attendance each year. The latest available national data was published in a report entitled "Analysis of School Attendance Data in Primary and Post-primary Schools, 2010/2011". This report is available on the website of the Child and Family Agency at www.tusla.ie and will provide the Deputy with information on the numbers of children in full-time education in the recognised school sector.

The Agency has a statutory remit to maintain a register of children in receipt of education in places other than recognised schools. In 2012, a total of 810 children were registered as home-educated, in addition to the 8,290 children registered as attending schools which are not recognised under the Education Act, 1998.

A report on “Retention Rates for Pupils in Second Level Schools - 2007 Entry Cohort” was published last week by my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills. This report provides a detailed analysis of the records held by the Department of Education and Skills for the cohort of entrants to the first year of the Junior Cycle in 2007. The report showed that of the 2007 entry cohort, 96.93% sat the Junior Certificate Exams in 2010 or 2011 and 90.13% sat the Leaving Certificate Exams in 2012 or 2013. This report is available in full on the website of the Department of Education and Skills www.education.ie.

The Minister for Education and Skills has responsibility for the Home Tuition Scheme. Officials within his Department have advised that the information on home tuition is not readily available in the format sought but will be compiled and forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

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