Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount it costs to run the administration of the National Education Welfare Board; the number of local officers in place to follow up on reports made by local schools; the number of cases against parents that have been taken by the NEWB since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5447/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board as the statutory body with responsibility for school attendance. The general functions of the board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The board's service has developed incrementally and the board now has a total of 109 sanctioned posts. Some 90 posts are allocated in the direct service delivery, of which 85 are currently filled. The board operates through five regional teams at 30 locations nationwide. The budget allocation to the board has also followed an incremental trend, as follows: 2003; €4.310 million; 2004, €6.514 million; 2005, €7.838 million; 2006, €8.150 million; 2007, €9.808 million; and 2008, €10.085 million.

The board's network of educational welfare officers is the key means by which the board delivers on its statutory remit to ensure that each child attends and benefits from education. The officers deal with approximately 10,000 cases, involving children with reported school attendance difficulties, per annum. They work closely with the family, the school and other support services to address the particular issues for each child. In line with Government policy, the board prioritises its resources to support the most disadvantaged areas and schools participating in DEIS, the action plan for educational inclusion. The officers provide an intensive service in those areas. Outside of those areas, priority is given to children who are out of school or have significant difficulties with school attendance. The many reasons for non-attendance are complex. For example, some parents fail to enrol their child in a school or ensure that their child attends school regularly.

I have been advised by the National Educational Welfare Board 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 is the first step in enforcing the law. When a 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, if there is no change and the child remains out of school, the board will consider taking a prosecution. The first notices for non-attendance at school issued in 2005. A total of 460 notices issued between 2005 and the end of 2007. The provisional data available for 2008 indicate that approximately 315 notices issued during 2008. When a notice is issued, the board monitors the situation and gives the parent an opportunity to address the underlying causes of poor attendance. Occasionally, the involvement of other services with the family may be sufficient to bring about a change. The first legal cases for non-attendance under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 were heard in the District Courts in 2006. In 2006 and 2007, some 89 summonses were issued against parents in respect of 53 children. Provisional data for 2008 indicate that 51 summonses were issued in 2008 in respect of 34 children. This brings the number of summonses issued against parents by the board since its establishment to 140, relating to 87 children.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his proposals in respect of amending the legislation which established the National Educational Welfare Board to include in the scope of the act school going children under the age of six years. [5449/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board as the statutory body with responsibility for school attendance. The general functions of the board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The board's network of educational welfare officers is the key means by which the board delivers on its statutory remit to ensure that each child attends and benefits from education. The officers deal with approximately 10,000 cases, involving children with reported school attendance difficulties, per annum. Under the 2000 Act, parents are required to ensure that children aged between six and 16 attend school regularly. The Act increased the compulsory school leaving age from 15 to 16. In addition, a student must have reached the age of 16, or completed three years of post-primary school, whichever is the later.

The 2000 Act requires the principal of a recognised school to maintain a register in respect of all students attending that school. It is mandatory under the Act to report on attendance. The Act requires certain categories of absence to be reported to the board, including a student with more than 20 days of absence during a school year, a student who is suspended for more than six days cumulatively, a student whose name is removed from the register by the principal, a student who is not attending school on a regular basis or where the school has a concern for the student. In addition, the principal is also required to maintain, in respect of each school year, a record of the attendance or non-attendance on each school day of each student registered at the school. On receipt of such a report, the educational welfare officer must consult the student concerned, his or her parents, the principal and any other appropriate person and make all reasonable efforts to ensure that provision is made for the continued education of the child and his or her full participation in school.

The work of the welfare board is one aspect of the comprehensive framework the Government has put in place to improve school attendance and encourage more young people to finish school. Home-school community liaison co-ordinators work with parents to promote school attendance and emphasise its importance for success in school. School attendance is a central objective of the school completion programme, with attendance tracking a core feature and one of its preventative strategies. Access to these services is available to all schools participating in DEIS. In keeping with Department policy on closer integration of support services, the board is working with these programmes to improve the delivery of service to address school attendance. This approach aims to ensure that optimum use is made of the resources deployed. There are no proposals to amend the existing legislation in relation to children under six years of age.