Lack of staff ‘hampering bid to tackle truancy’

MORE staff are needed if the problem of regular absence from school is to be properly tackled, the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) warned yesterday.

The board’s chairwoman, Dr Ann Louise Gilligan, said the elimination of education disadvantage would remain an aspiration as long as there were gaps in vital services for children.

The board has less than 100 of the 330 staff it needs to offer full services to every school in the country. It sought funding of almost €13 million for this year, which would have allowed it more than double staff levels, but has only received €7.8m from the Department of Education.