Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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463. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that left school during each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 without completing the Leaving Certificate or Leaving Certificate Applied; if there are any figures as to where those students went next; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32749/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The most recent figures available concerns the students who began their post primary education in 2017. This cohort were due to complete their Leaving Certificate in the academic years 2021-22 or 2022-23. The 2016 cohort finished in the years 2020-21 or 2021-22.

Figures for the 2018 cohort finishing in 2022-23 or 2023-24 are yet to be published. The following table shows the number for pupils leaving school before completing their Leaving Certificate:

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/retention/.

Tusla is responsible for maintaining a register of all children who are home educated or who attend a school that does not fall under the definition of a ‘recognised school’ as set out in the Education Act 1998.

Tusla has established the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS), which has oversight of the regulation of provision for education in places other than recognised schools. The legal basis for carrying out assessments in places other than recognised schools is under Section 14 of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000.

Children under the age of 16 who leave a recognised school for an alternative education setting must register with AEARS for inclusion on the Section 14 register. These children are entitled to and can choose to sit the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate examinations.