Ms Mary Cregg:

It is in the context of whether resources have been applied appropriately and whether the resources available from the Department have been put in place. For example, the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, is available to support schools, where necessary. Obviously, the NEPS will propose that early intervention and whole-school approaches are the best way to tackle issues associated with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The NEPS will support the building of teachers' capacities to manage such pupils' behaviour within the classroom. About 80% of the work of the NEPS is individual casework with students. Its staff are available to support schools. Other processes need to be followed in the context of the school's statement of strategy on school attendance.

Tusla has issued guidelines on what should go into a school's attendance strategy. It is important, in that context, that when a school is looking at the attendance of a child, the statement of strategy is taken into account.