Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the arrangements set out as part of formation of the current Government, since January 2021, Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) is under the remit of my Department.

TESS operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. TESS has three strands, namely the Statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and the two school support services the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL) and the School Completion Programme (SCP). The three TESS strands work together collaboratively with schools, families and other relevant services to achieve the best educational outcomes for children and young people.

If a pupil/student is suspended for a period of not less than 6 consecutive school days then the school is obliged to report this to TESS. If a pupil/student is suspended for a shorter period(s) then it must be counted in the aggregate number of absences. If the pupil/student exceeds 20 days absence (including any suspensions) then this should be reported through the normal referral and reporting processes to the Educational Welfare Service of TESS.

Where a Board of Management has agreed an expulsion, a Notification of Intention to Expel should be completed and sent to TESS.

In addition and in accordance with the provisions contained within the Act, all primary schools, special schools and post-primary schools must report annually to TESS on student non-attendance at an aggregated level. This data is collected at an aggregated level by TESS and generates two reports - the School Absence Report (SAR) and the Annual Attendance Report (AAR).

The SAR is submitted by each school as a pupil-level report and provides data on those students aged over six and under 16 years of age who have been absent for a cumulative of 20 or more days by the reason for their absence.

The AAR provides four key pieces of data; total of days lost by all students, total number of students absent for 20 or more days, total number of students suspended and the total number of students expelled at school level.

The most recent publication of the Annual Attendance Report and Student Absence Report covers three school years, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 that were heavily impacted by the pandemic school closures and public health advice. The published series of Analysis of School Attendance Data reports, including the most recent publication, are available on Tusla’s website at Research and StatisticsTusla - Child and Family Agency

The verified published data in relation to suspensions and expulsions in primary and post-primary schools is represented in the table below.