Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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953. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department has considered allowing for a provision that would account for Covid-19-related school absences (details supplied). [33216/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) is responsible for addressing issues in relation to participation, retention and attendance in schools.

Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, schools are obliged to maintain records of students’ attendance and are required to refer cases to TESS when a student misses more than 20 days at school.

The next return schools have to submit to TESS will be for the period September to December 2020. When submitting returns the principal indicates if the student absences were explained or unexplained.

Explained absences include all instances where the student’s parents/guardians provide an explanation for the absences to the school and the school accepts the explanations provided. Where a student is absent due to Covid-19 and this is explained to the school then this is noted as an explained absence. Unexplained absences include all cases where the school has not received an explanation from parent/guardians regarding a student’s absences or where the explanations given are of concern to the school.

Educational Welfare Officers (EWO) intervene when a school indicates a concern regarding a student’s absences. Where the school indicates that absences are explained this generally does not lead to an intervention by an EWO.

Schools will be recording all absences as normal, with the only exception being in the cases of students who are medically certified at being at very high risk of Covid-19 and hence cannot attend school.

As per the guidance issued by the Department of Education, students deemed very high risk will be supported by their school to continue their education at home and if the student is engaging with learning at home they will be marked present.

TESS is very aware that some students will be absent for legitimate Covid-19-related health reasons. In the context of Covid-19 and the situations which may arise, TESS will work with schools, students and their parents to support them as required .

More broadly, and as the Deputy will be aware, I would also mention that An Taoiseach announced, as part of his speech on the formation of Government on Saturday 27 June, that “Educational welfare functions will be returned to the Department [of Education].” and discussions are currently underway between the two Departments in that regard.