Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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688. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to tackle absenteeism in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30595/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Over 224 million students worldwide were impacted by school closures during the pandemic (UNESCO, 2022). As a result, absenteeism post covid continues to rise, with rates of chronic absenteeism remaining high in primary and post primary schools across Ireland compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Tackling school absences is a key part of my plan to ensure that every child can achieve their full potential. Regular attendance in school is essential not just for academic achievement, but for wellbeing, social development and long-term life outcomes. As I said in my first Dáil speech as Minister for Education and Youth, I am determined to tackle this issue.

Parents have a legal duty to ensure that their child, who is attending a recognised school, is at school on every day that the school is open, unless there is a genuine reason for him or her not to attend.

Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is under the remit of my department. It 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 including the statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS). The EWS deal with children and families who have difficulties in relation to school attendance, participation, retention 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.

In May I announced a range of new measures to tackle school absenteeism. These measures will be both targeted and universal to improve school attendance.

Among the key initiatives being introduced are:

• The rollout of “Anseo” – a new evidence-based framework already piloted in four schools, to 60 additional schools to help schools analyse and respond to attendance data.
• Continued investment in the Educational Welfare Service, the Home School Community Liaison scheme and in the School Completion Programme.
• A national multimedia campaign, launching in September, to promote the importance of regular school attendance to students, parents and guardians
• Work across government to embed attendance as a priority from early childhood onwards.
• A revision of the Education (Welfare) Act to strengthen statutory supports for children, including bringing children under six attending primary school within its scope to ensure earlier intervention.