Worrying increase in child truancy numbers, Tusla figures show 

Figures show more than 8,000 referrals were made to the Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) between September 2023 and August of last year. File picture

Tusla figures have shed light on an increase in child truancy that saw the number of parents summoned to court rise significantly.

The latest data revealed that 111 families received summonses in 2024, marking an increase of 81 on the previous year. 

Some 58 of the summonses issued to households in 2024 related to primary school children while the remaining 53 were linked to secondary school children. 

A total of 12 were received by households in Cork along with Meath (11) and Kildare (13). Some 11 families in Galway face court proceedings as well as eight in Limerick.

The numbers have sparked concern among children’s charities, including the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC), which is directing extra resources into curbing school absenteeism.

The organisation regularly accepts referrals from schools and Tusla to prevent the situation from escalating.

ISPCC services manager Aoife Griffin said the charity currently offers therapeutic support for children withdrawing from school life.

She noted the difference between truancy and school avoidance, saying that severe anxiety plays a part for many children. 

Ms Griffin told of kids health issues prevent them from leaving their bedrooms.

“We are trying to get in at the earliest stage we can but that’s not always possible,” Ms Griffin said. 

Unfortunately, there are kids we come across who haven’t left their bedrooms. I have sat outside closed bedroom doors myself, trying to work with a young person to come out and meet with me. 

"In these situations, the work we do is very much incremental. Initially, it’s a case of getting a child used to any sort of social interaction, whether that’s going to the local shop or working up the courage to get on the school bus.” 

She is urging families not to lose hope.

“We’re a mobile service so we will meet the young person where they’re at. They don’t have the extra pressure of having to come to us. 

"Everyone on my team has experience of speaking to a child who doesn’t want to leave their bedroom. 

"I wasn’t successful the first time when I tried to speak to the child and slowly coaxed her out of her bedroom. However, she did come out for the next person on our team the second time around. We have another young person who stopped going to school but has started going in on a Tuesday and Thursday. It’s a slow build-up but there is always hope.” 

She urged parents dealing with school avoidance to seek help.

The threat of ending up in court can be really difficult for parents. Many parents feel like they have failed in some way since they can be met with a lot of judgement. 

"The shame often results in them trying to hide it from others until the days gets more and more reduced. The important thing is that these issues get dealt with as early as possible.” 

The number of students reported to Tusla due to school attendance concerns was over 25% higher last year than it was before the pandemic. 

Figures provided to the Irish Examiner show more than 8,000 referrals were made to the Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) between September 2023 and August of last year. Almost 1,070 such referrals had been made by the end of October 2024.