Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the fact that 30% of students in disadvantaged schools that have missed 20 days or more of school in 2010-11, to explain her plans to reduce the absenteeism figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48527/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), which operates under the aegis of my Department, has a statutory remit to encourage and support regular school attendance. The NEWB monitors school attendance nationally and I recently launched the Analysis of School Attendance Data for the 2010/2011 school year. These data show a continued improvement in student attendance from 2009/2010 and previous years. The number of school days being missed is at the lowest for the five year period 2006/07 – 2010/11 and the continued positive trend over recent years is to be welcomed.

While every incremental improvement represents real progress the number of children who miss school each day remains a significant cause for concern. The report highlights the need for sustained and focussed approaches to supporting student attendance, especially within particular groups in society. In the case of schools serving disadvantaged areas, the data shows that absences over 20 days in these schools are down 1% on the previous year’s figures (2009/10) and 3% from 2008/09. The overall improvements in attendance data in general demonstrate the positive impact of targeted investment programmes and the progress that can be achieved through the collaborative efforts of schools, parents, statutory and support services.

Within the NEWB, the Education Welfare Service has specific responsibility for the Board’s general statutory function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. I am advised by the NEWB that the Education Welfare Service worked with over 20,000 children in 2012, of which 2,420 were intensive interventions which required sustained support from an Education Welfare Officer and a multidisciplinary approach, in collaboration with schools, families and other services, in order to address the issues underlying poor school attendance.

The NEWB is also developing guidelines for schools on the development of school attendance strategies. The guidance will provide practical advice to schools in their task of enabling children to maximise their attendance, participation and retention in schools. The Board intends to complete this work within the current academic year.

The Department of Education and Skills DEIS school support programme (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) is part of a continuum of interventions designed to address the needs of 3 to 18 year olds from disadvantaged communities. DEIS adopts an integrated approach with early intervention as a core principle. Designated DEIS schools are supported in developing school based plans to facilitate self-evaluation against a range of self-determined targets, including the setting of targets on school attendance as a prioritised area of activity. My Department works closely with the Department of Education and Skills to ensure that a coherent and consistent approach is taken to effectively target our respective resources to support children at risk of poor school attendance and early school leaving. In relation to DEIS schools, the NEWB is in the process of refining and implementing a new strategic approach to service delivery through the integrated working of its three service strands, namely; the Education Welfare Service (74 front-line Education Welfare staff); Home School Community Liaison Programme (comprised of 402 school-based co-ordinators); and School Completion Programme (comprised of 124 school cluster projects involving 470 primary and 224 post-primary schools). This integrated model of service will provide an enhanced response to the needs of children, families and schools in relation to attendance, participation and retention. I see this strategic national approach as a crucial reform in our efforts to tackle school absenteeism.

The amalgamation of the NEWB’s services into the new Child and Family Agency upon its establishment will further consolidate the development of services aimed at children and provide opportunities for more effective working amongst the range of professionals involved in such services. The Child and Family Agency will have a specific legislative remit to promote educational outcomes through its educational welfare programmes. In the case of schools servicing disadvantaged areas, work to improve outcomes in school attendance will be a collaborative venture involving the existing three service strands, schools themselves, parents and young people, other Departments, agencies and services.