Data from the Child and Family Agency Tusla has shown a dramatic increase in primary pupil absenteeism in recent years with the latest figures showing that 8.6% of school days at primary level were lost to pupil absences in the 2022/23 school year.
This compares to 5.2% of school days lost in the year prior to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2018/19.
It comes as Minister for Education Helen McEntee announced a number of measures to tackle what she called "hugely alarming" absentee rates, including a national multimedia campaign to begin in September, to promote the importance of regular school attendance.
Tusla has confirmed that over 110,000 primary and 65,000 post-primary students missed 20 or more days during that academic year.
This compares to 54,890 primary school pupils and 44,874 post primary students missing 20 or more days in 2018/19.
Those numbers increased dramatically in subsequent years and the latest data confirms that they remained significantly higher in 2022/23, which is the latest year that figures have been compiled and published.
The data shows that more than 11% of school days in post-primary schools were lost to student absences in the 2022/23 school year.
This is lower than the proportion recorded in 2018/19, when 14.5% of days were recorded as lost.
110,000 primary school children missing 20 or more days of school represents 25% of pupils in the schools that sent data in to Tusla. 78% of primary schools responded.
Schools record the reason for absence under a variety of headings.
At primary level "illness" accounted for the highest number of absences at 43% of the total. At post-primary level a majority of student absences (52.7%) were categorised as "unexplained".
Suspensions
1,135 pupils were suspended in primary schools in 2022/23. This is below the 15 year average rate. However, Tusla says the incomplete response rate from schools "may obscure the true number of suspensions".
12,060, students were suspended in post-primary schools, also below the 15 year average.
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DEIS
There were higher rates of absence and also of student suspensions in DEIS schools.
In second level DEIS schools, 30.7% of students, missed 20 days or more. This compares to 19.5% for non DEIS schools.
Meanwhile, sixty schools are to be involved in a pilot scheme to analyse and respond to attendance data, and an expansion of educational welfare officer capacity has been promised, as part of the new measures announced by Ms McEntee.
A scoping project to deliver real-time attendance data for better decision-making and intervention is also planned.
Absentee figures represent 'worrying' trend, says minister
Minister for Education Helen McEntee said that the "alarming figures" represent a "very worrying trend that we're seeing post-Covid".
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland Ms McEntee said that this trend is being seen "across the globe".
She said a number of factors are at play and that DEIS schools in particular need to be supported because children in these schools are at the most risk of educational disadvantage.
The minister said the main reason for absenteeism in primary schools was illness and this can be attributed to the nervousness around illness post-pandemic.
Ms McEntee said that they are involving the Department of Health to make sure the correct advice is still being given to students.
Among post-primary students, the reason for absenteeism is unexplained, she added.
"The quicker we can identify a problem that's emerging, the quicker we can reverse it," said Ms McEntee.
"But also, if you have real time data and information, you're getting better clarity on the reasons behind it."
The minister said a multimedia campaign from September will highlight the importance of school attendance.
In a statement, Ms McEntee said she plans to revise the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 to strengthen statutory supports for young children, including bringing children under six attending primary school within its scope to ensure earlier intervention, and will shortly publish a new national plan on educational disadvantage, aligned with these measures.
Currently the legislation only applies to children over the age of five.
Minister McEntee said: "Regular attendance in school is essential not just for academic achievement, but for wellbeing, social development and long-term life outcomes.
"Unfortunately, the stark reality is that in recent years we have seen a decline in regular attendance, and a rise in the number of children and young people missing a very concerning number of school days," Ms McEntee added.
"School attendance is linked with attainment and with completing school. While there is excellent practice in schools to support children and young people to attend, we must listen to the data from Tusla and redouble our efforts".
