Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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516. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who have not returned to school since the Covid-19 pandemic began and are early school leavers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52585/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The number of early school leavers is calculated officially in the Department of Education retention report published annually. The next retention report for the 2014 entry cohort (i.e. those pupils who commenced post primary education in 2014) will be published in due course.

Where schools have a concern about a child’s attendance they are required to make a referral to TESS Education Welfare Service (EWS) in line with the provisions of the Education (Welfare) Act. Since the beginning of this Covid-19 pandemic, Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) have adopted a welfare approach in relation to school attendance and Educational Welfare Officers (EWO) have continued to advise and assist Parent(s)/Guardian(s) in relation to any school attendance issues being experienced by their children following the receipt of a referral by the service.