Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
219. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will report on the outcomes of the multimedia campaign on school attendance launched with Tusla Education Support Service, and whether her Department has set attendance targets to measure its effectiveness. [53660/25]
View answerTusla Education Support Service (TESS) is under the remit of my department and operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. TESS has three strands namely the statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and the two school support services the Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme and the School Completion Programme (SCP). The three TESS strands work together collaboratively with schools, parents and guardians and other relevant services to achieve the best educational outcomes for children and young people.
In May I announced a range of new measures to tackle school absenteeism. Among the key initiatives is a multimedia campaign on school attendance, which has been developed by my department and TESS in consultation with key stakeholders. The campaign is one element of a 5-year plan for school attendance developed by TESS.
The multimedia campaign aims to raise awareness of the school attendance issue with parents and guardians, to communicate the many positive benefits that daily attendance at school provides for our children and young people and to signpost the available supports for schools, parents and guardians.
TESS is undertaking pre and post media campaign evaluation to assess the attitudinal and behavioural changes to school attendance as a result of the multimedia campaign.
In addition, the Economic and Social Research Institute has been engaged by TESS to complete a joint research programme on school attendance data, policy and practice in Ireland, an evaluation of the Anseo framework and a research paper on the long-term effects of school absenteeism. Developing a better understanding of the drivers of school absence and the impact on children through research and improved data collection will greatly assist schools and services.
The 2023/24 school year attendance report shows some improvements in attendance from the 2022/23 school year attendance report. TESS will continue to collect and publish attendance data in line with the Education (Welfare) Act 2000.
