Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
220. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if Tusla will expand resources for its Education Support Service in Cork, in view of the increase in secondary school absenteeism reported in the agency's own data. [53661/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn May, I announced a range of measures to tackle school absenteeism. These measures are a key part of my plan to ensure that every child can achieve their full potential, regardless of their background or their ability. Regular attendance in school is essential, not just for academic achievement, but for wellbeing, social development and long-term life outcomes.
Tusla 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.
TESS currently provide a range of services in Cork including dedicated educational welfare officers (EWOs) who work with children and their families to support consistent school attendance and the HSCL scheme and SCP, operate in all DEIS urban primary and post-primary schools throughout county Cork.
Other initiatives developed in response to concerning rates of absenteeism include:
• TESS 5- year plan for school attendance 2023-2028 to improve school attendance nationally. Initiatives in the plan include improved data collection and analysis, expansion of the Anseo framework to all schools over the next three years, research and policy development, attendance initiatives and the continued development of the service delivery of the three TESS strands.
• Development of the Anseo framework, a school-level support, providing an actionable attendance tool for schools, using a three-tiered model. Schools can identify patterns of absenteeism at the student, class and whole-school level and develop nuanced and timely responses to drivers of school absenteeism.
• The Anseo model was trialed in four schools during the 2023/24 school year, and it is now being extended to 60 additional schools from the start of the current school year. The Anseo team in TESS will support schools in recognising the value of using attendance data to implement effective, whole-school strategies to help improve student attendance. There are 6 schools in Co. Cork participating in this phase. The aim is to roll the framework out to all schools by 2028.
• Multimedia campaign on school attendance which launched at the end of September. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the school attendance issue with parents and guardians by communicating the many benefits for children and young people of daily attendance at school. The campaign also signposts supports for families who may be experiencing school attendance problems.
In addition, I will be bringing forward an amendment to the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 that will bring all children under the age of 6 attending recognised primary schools within the scope of the Act. This legislative change will ensure children under the age of 6 years, attending recognised schools, can access the supports of the EWS.
