My feeling that there is a lack of the necessary sense of urgency regarding this problem is strengthened by a recent newspaper report about the use of technology by schools to deal with truancy. I heard mention of this on the radio also. Some schools have experimented with a system which allows them to alert parents by means of a mobile phone text message if their child does not turn up at school. It seemed a brilliant idea to me and a forward looking and imaginative use of technology to address a very down-to-earth problem. I was very encouraged by the news, but I was less pleased recently to learn that the National Educational Welfare Board has instructed schools to refrain from having anything to do with systems like this. No doubt, the Minister of State will explain that this step was taken pending the board's investigation into the merits of the system, but the net effect will be a further delay in addressing the problem of truancy.