Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I note that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will be in the House tomorrow. As a matter of courtesy I would like the Leader to inform him that I will be raising issues relating to the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000. Under the Act, many schools are obliged to report children who are absent for more than 20 days; unfortunately not one education welfare officer has been appointed in that time. That obviously can be a big link to crime. Many of the children who are absent from school get involved in petty crime.