Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if school absenteeism at primary and second level has decreased since the introduction of the National Education Welfare Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32948/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the Board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. An additional 15 staff have been allocated to the NEWB in 2007. This brings the current authorised staffing of the Board to 109 posts of which 90 are allocated to working directly in the service delivery area. The staffing complement is comprised of 19 HQ and support staff, 5 regional managers, 13 Senior EWOs and 72 EWOs.

It should, however, be remembered that the service provided by the Board is just one aspect of the comprehensive framework that this Government has put in place to improve school attendance and encourage more young people to finish school. In this regard, extra supports targeted at young people in disadvantaged areas include both educational initiatives such as intensive literacy programmes and the provision of breakfast and homework clubs. In fact, in addition to the NEWB, there are currently in excess of 600 staff within the education sector with a role in school attendance. Home School Community Liaison Coordinators, in working with parents, promote school attendance and its importance for success in school. School attendance is a central objective of School Completion Programme with attendance tracking a core feature and one of its preventative strategies. Access to these services is being increased with the continued rollout of services under DEIS the Action Plan for tackling educational disadvantage.

The Board operates through 5 regional teams, with bases in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. A service is provided from 26 locations nationwide. Staff are deployed in areas of greatest disadvantage and in areas designated under the Government's RAPID programme. In addition, the Board follows up on urgent cases nationally where children are not currently receiving an education. Educational Welfare Officers play a pivotal role in implementing the service provided by the NEWB through monitoring school attendance and working to improve it. The EWOs also help parents that are experiencing a difficulty with getting a school place for their child. Since January 2004, 20,000 cases involving students with reported school attendance difficulties have been resolved by the Board. The NEWB has also issued an Information Leaflet to every family with children of school going age advising them of their rights and responsibilities in relation to education and school attendance and where they can get help.

The first national data on school attendance has been collected and is being used to inform the Board's work. In relation to the effectiveness of the service, it is encouraging to note research findings indicate that attendance at school in the areas where EWOs are working intensively, the mean percentage of students absent 20 days or more has decreased by over 4% in 2004/05 compared with the previous year. Attendance data relating to the 2005/06 school year is currently being analysed by the NEWB.

This government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure that every child gets all the opportunities and support they need to enable them to achieve their potential and participate fully in education. I will be keeping the issue of the NEWB's staffing under review in light of the rollout of services, the scope for integrated working and any proposals that the Board may put to me in relation to clearly identified priority needs.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children who miss school for over 20 days, 30 days, 40 days, 50 days and 60 days per annum per county at primary and second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32949/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the Board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. An additional 15 staff have been allocated to the NEWB in 2007. This brings the current authorised staffing of the Board to 109 posts of which 90 are allocated to working directly in the service delivery area. The staffing complement is comprised of 19 HQ and support staff, 5 regional managers, 13 Senior EWOs and 72 EWOs.

It should, however, be remembered that the service provided by the Board is just one aspect of the comprehensive framework that this Government has put in place to improve school attendance and encourage more young people to finish school. In this regard, extra supports targeted at young people in disadvantaged areas include both educational initiatives such as intensive literacy programmes and the provision of breakfast and homework clubs. In fact, in addition to the NEWB, there are currently in excess of 600 staff within the education sector with a role in school attendance. Home School Community Liaison Coordinators, in working with parents, promote school attendance and its importance for success in school. School attendance is a central objective of School Completion Programme with attendance tracking a core feature and one of its preventative strategies. Access to these services is being increased with the continued rollout of services under DEIS the Action Plan for tackling educational disadvantage.

The Board operates through 5 regional teams, with bases in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. A service is provided from 26 locations nationwide. Staff are deployed in areas of greatest disadvantage and in areas designated under the Government's RAPID programme. In addition, the Board follows up on urgent cases nationally where children are not currently receiving an education. Educational Welfare Officers play a pivotal role in implementing the service provided by the NEWB through monitoring school attendance and working to improve it. The EWOs also help parents that are experiencing a difficulty with getting a school place for their child.

Since January 2004, 20,000 cases involving students with reported school attendance difficulties have been resolved by the Board. The NEWB has also issued an Information Leaflet to every family with children of school going age advising them of their rights and responsibilities in relation to education and school attendance and where they can get help. The first national data on school attendance has been collected and is being used to inform the Board's work. In relation to the effectiveness of the service, it is encouraging to note research findings indicate that attendance at school in the areas where EWOs are working intensively, the mean percentage of students absent 20 days or more has decreased by over 4% in 2004/05 compared with the previous year. Attendance data relating to the 2005/06 school year is currently being analysed by the NEWB.

In relation to the deputy's specific question on the levels of absenteeism on a county by county basis. I have been informed by the NEWB that,while data on absenteeism on a county by county basis can be provided, it will not be possible to provide information on absenteeism in the format of over 20 days, 30 days, 40 days, 50 days and 60 days per annum as requested by the deputy. I will be writing to the deputy directly when the NEWB has provided the requested data.

This government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure that every child gets all the opportunities and support they need to enable them to achieve their potential and participate fully in education. I will be keeping the issue of the NEWB's staffing under review in light of the rollout of services, the scope for integrated working and any proposals that the Board may put to me in relation to clearly identified priority needs.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of legal cases that have been taken by the National Education Welfare Board; the outcome of these cases; if student attendance has improved as a result of the NEWB intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32950/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the Board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. An additional 15 staff have been allocated to the NEWB in 2007. This brings the current authorised staffing of the Board to 109 posts of which 90 are allocated to working directly in the service delivery area. The staffing complement is comprised of 19 HQ and support staff, 5 regional managers, 13 Senior EWOs and 72 EWOs.

The reasons for non attendance are many and complex and included parents who failed to enrol their child in a school or to ensure that their child attended school regularly. I have been advised by the NEWB that legal action for non attendance at school is only taken when all other steps have failed and following consultation with the school and other services. Court action must ultimately be in the best interests of the child. A School Attendance Notice (SAN) is the first step in enforcing the law.

The first legal notices, School Attendance Notices, under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 were issued in 2005. A total of 36 SANs were issued in 2005. In 2006, 196 School Attendance Notices in respect of 137 children were issued by Educational Welfare Officers to parents of children who are not attending school regularly. To date in 2007, 204 SANs have been issued in relation to 146 children. When a school attendance notice is issued, the situation is monitored and the parent is given every opportunity to address the underlying issues. Occasionally, the involvement of other services with the family may be sufficient to bring about change. In exceptional cases, where there is no change and the child remains out of school, the Board will consider taking a prosecution.

Where legal proceedings are served on a family, the cases are heard in the local District Court. The first cases for non attendance at school under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 were heard in 2006. During 2006, 34 legal proceedings were initiated against the parents of 17 children with the following outcomes: (one set of parents were prosecuted twice).5 sets of parents (10 in total) of 5 children were fined. 9 cases (relating to 5 children) currently stand adjourned. Proceedings against 13 parents (relating to 6 children) were withdrawn following enrolment of the children in school or an improvement in attendance. Proceedings against one set of parents was withdrawn as the family no longer reside in the State. 12 children were back in school at the end of 2006 because legal action was taken.

Seven cases involving 12 parents were brought forward into 2007, of these seven cases, 5 were struck out. In the case of the other two brought forward into 2007, one parent was fined and the child is back in school, the other case is still ongoing and again the child is back in school. In relation to new summons issued in 2007, up to the end of October 2007, 41 summons have been issued against the parents of 28 children. The outcomes of these prosecutions is currently being analysed and a report for 2007 will be available shortly.