Ryan O'Meara
Ceist:486. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the Student Absence Reports (SAR) 2024/2025 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45568/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 16 June 2026
Ceisteanna (486, 502)
Ryan O'Meara
Ceist:502. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth regarding the Student Absence Reports (SAR) 2023/2024, the number of the 1,265 suspensions at primary level which were in DEIS schools; the number of the 11,627 suspensions at post-primary level which were in DEIS schools; the number of the 27 expulsions from primary schools which were in DEIS schools; and the number of the 150 expulsions from post-primary schools which were in DEIS schools. [45674/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 502 together.
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.
Section 21 (6) of the Act provides that all recognised primary and post primary schools, including special schools, submit an Annual Attendance Report (AAR) to TESS on student non-attendance at an aggregated level, within six weeks of the end of the school year.
The AAR provides four pieces of data in respect of all students enrolled in the school;
• total days lost by all students,
• total students absent for 20 or more days,
• total students suspended,
• total students expelled at the school level.
In accordance with Section 21 (4) of the Act, Student Absence Reports (SARs) are submitted to TESS by recognised schools and provide data only on those students aged over 6 years and under 16 years, who are absent for a cumulative total of 20 or more days in the school year, by the recorded reason for their absence. The recorded absence reasons are; illness, urgent, holiday, suspension or other.
The number of suspensions in DEIS primary and post-primary schools in the 2023/2024 school year is published in the AAR/SAR Report for the 2023/24 school year, available at the following link: Analysis_of_School_Attendance_Data_2023-24.pdf www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/Analysis_of_School_Attendance_Data_2023-24.pdf.
The AAR/SAR Report for the 2024/25 school year is due for publication later in 2026.