Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2025
404. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a list of the five special schools at primary and post-primary level who have suspended and/or expelled the highest number of pupils in each of the years 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025. [54574/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra520. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of suspensions and expulsions in special schools in the Cork area in each of the years 2023, 2024 and in 2025 to date. [55419/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra521. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of suspensions and expulsions in special schools in the Waterford area in each of the years 2023, 2024 and in 2025 to date. [55420/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 404, 520 and 521 together.
Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is under the remit of my Department.
TESS 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 and the two school support services the Home School Community Liaison scheme and the School Completion Programme. 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 line with the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, all primary schools, including special schools, and post-primary schools must report annually on student non-attendance in primary and post-primary schools.
This data is collected using the Tusla Portal hosted by the Child and Family Agency. Data is generated from the Annual Attendance Report (AAR), which provides total students suspended and total students expelled at school level. The data is gathered at an aggregated level and the reports are published and are available on the Tusla website at the following link: www.tusla.ie/services/educational-welfare-services/publications/research-and-statistics.
