Waterford to go without three educational welfare officers until at least May

During the 2022/23 school year, more than 25% of primary school children and 20% of post-primary school students missed at least a month of school. File Picture: Danny Lawson/PA

An entire county, which includes some of the poorest areas in Munster, is without the dedicated staff needed to make sure children are attending school.

At a time when school attendance rates are in the spotlight, Waterford City and county has been left without its three educational welfare officers (EWO) to track cases of extended school absenteeism.