Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school attendance notices issued by the Educational Welfare Service on an annual basis for the past five years. [28027/24]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of legal proceedings commenced on foot of failure to comply with the requirement of school attendance notices in each of the past five years. [28028/24]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of court-imposed penalties imposed on foot of failure to comply with the requirement of school attendance notices in each of the past five years. [28029/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 219, 220 and 221, inclusive, together.

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

TESS has three strands namely the statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and the two school support services, the Home School Community Liaison Scheme and the School Completion Programme. 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.

The EWS operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. This is a statutory service and its primary role is to ensure that every child either attends school regularly or otherwise receives a certain minimum education; to ensure and secure every child’s entitlement to education. Educational Welfare Officers (EWO's) work with families and children in a child-centered way to overcome barriers to their school attendance, participation and retention. They also work closely with schools, educational support services and other agencies to support school attendance and resolve attendance problems for the benefit of children and families.

Legal action for non-attendance at school is only taken by the Educational Welfare Service 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 (SAN) is the first step in enforcing the law. When a school attendance notice is issued, the situation is monitored and the parent or guardian 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, where there is no change and the child remains out of school, the EWS will consider taking a prosecution.

The information sought by the Deputy is contained in the tables below.

Number of court-imposed penalties on foot of failure to comply with the requirement of school attendance notices in each of the past five years.

Legal proceedings commenced on foot of failure to comply with school attendance notices in each of the past five years

Where both parents have parental rights, both parents are served separate summons’s which accounts for a larger number of summonses issued versus the individual children numbers. In addition there may also be more than one summons issued to the same parents/s in relation to the same child’s non-attendance, where the case is re-entered.

Number of school attendance notices issued for the past five years

*These numbers are influenced by the consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic and school closures.