State prosecutes parents over child absenteeism

THE State has prosecuted 28 sets of parents so far this year because their children are failing to turn up regularly to school.

However, the number of prosecutions is small compared with the overall number of cases of serious absenteeism.

Each year, more than 84,000 children under the age of 16 miss more than 20 days of school, according to the National Educational Welfare Board, the State agency responsible for school attendance.