Legislation: (Citizen’s Information – School attendance)
Parents: The legislation governing school attendance in Ireland is the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. Under the Act the minimum school leaving age is 16 years, or the completion of three years of post-primary education, whichever is the later. Parents are required to ensure that their children from the age of 6 to the age of 16 attend a recognised school or receive a certain minimum education. Under the Education Welfare Act 2000 parents must inform the school if their children will be absent from school on a school day and the reason for the absence, for example, illness.
Schools: Schools are obliged to keep a register of the students attending the school. They must also maintain attendance records for all students and inform the Child and Family Agency's educational welfare services if a child is absent for more than 20 days in a school year. The principal must also inform the Child and Family Agency's educational welfare services if, in his/her view, a student has an attendance problem.