FG: Extra staff not enough to solve truancy problem

Extra staff at the Education Welfare Board will not solve the problem of truancy in our schools, according to Fine Gael's Education spokesperson, Olwyn Enright.

She says an announcement by the Minister yesterday that staff numbers are to be doubled on the Educational Welfare Board is merely paying lip service to the problem.

Up to 13,000 students leave school every year without sitting the Leaving Certificate.

Deputy Enright said that figure won't improve much after yesterday's announcement.

She said the measures announced fell far short of existing staff’s recommendations, and would be implemented too slowly to have the desired effect.