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.

A school is obliged to notify the board if a child misses more than 20 days. An education welfare officer may then visit the parents or guardian to help ensure the child returns to school. Legal action is considered the last resort.

The latest figures show that, up to the end of October, prosecutions were taken against 28 sets of parents. The outcomes of the prosecutions have not yet been published, but it is likely fines will have been issued in some cases.

“The outcomes of these prosecutions is currently being analysed and a report for 2007 will be available shortly,” Education Minister Mary Hanafin informed Fine Gael TD Paul Connaughton, who requested the information.

In addition to the prosecutions, the board has issued 204 school attendance notices in relation to 146 children so far this year. An attendance notice is the first step in enforcing the law, and a prosecution, heard in the district court, is the last step, she said.

“When a school attendance notice is issued, the situation is monitored and the parent is given every opportunity to address the underlying issues,” said Ms Hanafin. “Occasionally, the involvement of other services with the family may be sufficient to bring about change. In exceptional cases, where there is no change and the child remains out of school, the [board] will consider taking a prosecution.”

However, the relatively low number of attendance notices issued and prosecutions initiated so far this year would appear to support the argument that the agency is understaffed and under-resourced.

Earlier this year, Ms Hanafin announced an extra 15 staff for the agency, bringing its total to 109. But an independent consultant’s report on behalf of the board estimated that at least 363 staff would be required.

Children’s charity Barnardo’s has argued the board “can only react to chronic instances of absenteeism rather than proactively offering a prevention-focused service” because of its lack of staff.

The Government promised in the Towards 2016 social partnership agreement to hire an additional 100 staff by 2009, but these workers will be divided between the board and the National Educational Psychological Service — meaning the former will be left far short of its required staffing level.