Fight against truancy steps up as 13 families convicted in 5 months

THERE were 13 convictions against parents relating to truant children in the first five months of this year, one of which ended in a custodial sentence, according to the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB).

This compares with 14 convictions for the whole of 2008 and only three in 2007.

Almost a quarter of all legal notices issued to parents since the scheme began four years ago were served in this first five months of this year, the figures show.