Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Acting Chairman's indulgence. I thank the Minister and I reiterate that I hope nobody thinks that the intention of this Bill is stick rather than carrot. There are principals like myself in my former occupation who had the situation where they could only deal with the agents of the State, the National Educational Welfare Board as it was then and Tusla now, if a child was over six years of age. If there is a child in the school with very poor attendance patterns, for whatever reason, there was not the opportunity to refer that child because the legislation provided for children between the ages of six and 16. The intention of this Bill is not to hurt families. It is not to try and create difficulty between the school and a family. It is intended that a school can work with a family to address these poor behaviour patterns and that they can be empowered to do so by legislation. That is the ethos behind the Bill.

I am delighted the Minister has accepted the Bill, is taking it on board that we have reached Committee Stage and can progress it. I mention a child who is enrolled and who is dependent on adults advocating for him or her. When one is 16 or 17 years of age, and in the education system, one is in a position to advocate for oneself and it is a different conversation, but when a child is four or five years of age, he or she needs adults to back him or her. Children need their parents, family and whole school community to back them. I am delighted that people in this House are backing those children and the Minister is too. I appreciate the Minister's support.