Mayo woman in court for failing to send her daughter to school

A Mayo mother has been fined after her daughter was absent from school for half of two successive academic years. 

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, took the case against the student's mother over her failure to abide by the State's legal requirements to have a child attend school under the Education Welfare Act 2000.

The case was brought on foot of a referral received by Tusla in January 2022 from the girl’s national school once her non-attendance exceeded 21 days.

Siobhán O’Brien, Education Welfare Officer with Tusla, told the court she that met with the child’s parent and school principal following the referral. There was no reason offered for the child’s absence other than illness. Parental supports were offered but the mother said they were not required.

The child’s attendance did not improve and she had an absentee rate of 32% in the 2022/23 school year, missing 59 days out of 183. The following year it was worse with an absentee rate of 46% or 84 days.

The matter first came before the courts last March and Ms O’Brien said it was concerning that the child has been absent for 24% of the current school year. The child is now in secondary school and the school has since made similar referrals to Tusla.

Ms O’Brien said it has been her experience that these situations tend to improve once legal proceedings begin, but there has no been “no great improvement” in this situation. She said the child presents as happy when she is in school and has made friends.

The mother’s solicitor Samantha Geraghty said there has been an improvement in the last three weeks and the mother has given an indication she will engage with support services. The solicitor said the new year has brought "a new attitude".

However, Ms O’Brien disputed this and said the child has missed two-and-a-half days out of seven in the school year since the end of Christmas break.

Ms Geraghty said her client has now agreed to avail of parenting supports and the child has enrolled in their local Foroige group. She said the mother works part-time and has two other adult children who live at home.

The mother gave reassurances to the court that her child will attend school. James Ward, solicitor for the Child and Family Agency, said that the mother has made similar reassurances in the past but has not followed through on them.

Judge Sandra Murphy asked the mother why her child had not been in school to which the mother said her child had been ill. However, Judge Murphy did not accept this excuse and said her education must be a priority and that the girl is at a “crucial stage in life.” “What is crucial is that she gets an education. It will be too late to go back in a year or two. It is so vital that she goes,” she said.

She added there was “a strong family unit” at home with enough adults living in the house to make sure that the teenager makes it to school every morning.

Judge Murphy imposed a fine of €300 and told the mother that it was up to her to ensure that her child goes to school.