Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I am talking about replacing the current social welfare system with a National Education Welfare Board system, so it is not a duplication but a reduction in bureaucracy. Children are not attending school today. One in six secondary school children misses more than 20 days of school, while one in ten primary school children misses more than 20 days of school. This has a huge impact on their young lives and leads to significant social consequences down the road. The Department of Social Protection is abdicating its responsibility because these children are not attending school. Why are we continuing to pay child benefit to them? Here is a proposal, bringing the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Social Protection together, that can save a significant amount of money and give young people the opportunity of education. Surely Jenny, and every other Jenny in this country, has a right to a proper education.

Why should Jenny have to wait until her parents are prosecuted and why should she have to lose a full year at school before getting a proper education? We have a responsibility to ensure every Jenny in the country receives that education. Principals around the country can tell us that some parents are not prepared to get up in the morning to get their children out to school. However, if there was a financial impact in that regard, their attitudes would change. Jenny's case is just one example. When the fine was introduced, the family perked up and ensured she went to school. Let us make sure we send a clear message that there is a responsibility to attend school and that if children do not, we will hit the parents in the pocket, saving taxpayers' money and the lives of these young children.

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