The landscape of Irish education is facing a significant challenge as school absenteeism remains at concerning levels following the pandemic. While recent data shows modest improvements in some areas, the proportion of students missing substantial portions of the school year is still higher than pre-pandemic figures. For educators and parents, understanding these trends is the first step towards rebuilding the consistent attendance habits essential for a child’s academic and social development.
Current Trends in Irish School Attendance
Recent research from the Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI) and Tusla highlights several critical patterns in school attendance for the ‘23/’24 academic year
- *Chronic Absenteeism remains high: One in five students at both primary and post-primary levels are missing a month or more (20+ days) of the school year
- Sectoral differences: Chronic absence is notably higher in schools in disadvantaged communities.
- Primary vs. Post Primary: While primary schools saw a 2.8% drop in chronic absenteeism between 2022/23 and 2023/24, post primary schools saw a much smaller decline of just under 1 percentage point.
- Language and Ethos: Gaelscoils generally report lower levels of absence than English medium schools, and multi-denominational schools tend to have higher absence rates than Catholic or minority faith schools.
- Special Schools: These schools face unique challenges, with 31% of students missing 20 or more days, often due to appointments.
Why are students missing school?
The reasons behind these shifts are often complex. While illness remains the most common factor (accounting for 47% of primary absences), other drivers have become increasingly prominent:
- Mental Health and Anxiety: An increasing number of students experience school related anxiety or “Emotionally Based School Avoidance” (EBSA),which makes daily attendance difficult.
- Shift in Parental Attitudes: There is emerging evidence that the pandemic may have damaged the “social contract” between homes and schools, with some families now seeing daily attendance as more optional than it was previously.
- Socio-economic Barriers: Financial pressures, transport issues, and housing instability continue to impact a student’s ability to get to school.
- Unexplained Absences: A significant portion of missed days – approximately 25% at primary level remain unexplained by parents or guardians.
National Initiatives and Government Response
The Department of Education and Tusla have launched comprehensive measures to tackle these issues:
- The “Anseo” Framework is being rolled out in 60 schools. It empowers school leadership to analyse attendance data in real-time and implement tailored interventions for specific students or classes.
- National Awareness Campaign: Launched in September 2025, this multimedia campaign emphasises that “every day counts” and highlights the social and academic benefits of regular attendance at school.
- Legislative Reform: Proposed amendments to the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 aim to bring children under the age of six in primary schools under the scope of statutory attendance supports.
- Investment in Support Services: Continued funding for the Educational Welfare Service (EWS), Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme, and the School Completion Programme (SCP) aims to foster stronger parent-school links.
What Schools and Parents Can Do
Improving attendance requires a collaborative approach which relies on early intervention and clear communication.
For Schools:
- Foster a Positive Atmosphere: Create a welcoming environment where students feel safe and engaged through extracurricular activities and leadership roles.
- Use Data Effectively: Utilise systems like “Anseo” or other tracking tools to identify patterns of poor attendance early, before they become an issue.
- Establish Clear Policies: Boards of Management should regularly review their school attendance strategy, incorporating reward systems for good attendance and clear procedures for following up on unexplained absences.
- Engage in Early Dialogue: Highlight attendance patterns during Parent Teacher meetings and reach out informally as soon as a concerning pattern emerges.
For Parents:
- Prioritise Consistency: Ensure regular and punctual attendance, helping children understand that school is a daily priority.
- Communicate Early: Notify the school immediately of any absence and provide written reasons. If your child is struggling with school reluctance, contact the school or an Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) for support.
- Schedule Wisely: Arrange medical and dental appointments outside of school hours whenever possible and avoid taking holidays during term time.
- Promote Well-being: Support your child’s social development and self-worth, and stay involved in their school day by showing interest in their work and activities.
**Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days in an academic year for any reason