Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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750. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the educational welfare officer as determined by the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 will intervene to first work with the families to address the issue of improving attendance for 15-year-olds currently enrolled on the youthreach programme or issue a school attendance notice to the parents prior to escalating the matter to the District Court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18509/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Tusla Education Support Service (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 (HSCL) scheme and the School Completion Programme (SCP). The three TESS strands work together collaboratively with schools, parents and guardians and other relevant services to achieve the best educational outcomes for children and young people.

The Act provides that every child either attends school regularly or otherwise receives a certain minimum education; to ensure and secure every child’s entitlement to education. The Act defines a child as being, a person resident in the State, who has reached the age of 6 years, and who has not reached the age of 16 years or has not completed 3 years of post-primary education, whichever occurs later.

An Educational Welfare Officer will work in a welfare orientated approach with children and their families who meet the above criteria, to address and support attendance, participation and retention, including when they participate in a Youthreach programme.