Parents and guardians have a legal obligation to ensure their child attends a school.
More than 200 children have attended school so little over the past two years that their parents or guardians have been issued with legal proceedings by Tusla.
Almost half of the cases are in the south of the country.
Parents and guardians have a legal obligation to ensure their child attends a school or else receives an education elsewhere.
If Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, feels a parent is neglecting their kid in this regard, it sends them a warning letter, called a School Attendance Notice.
These warning letters were issued in connection with 778 individual children between January 2018 and August of this year.
If a parent ignores one these warnings, they face prosecution and, if convicted, they can be fined and/or jailed for up to a month.
Tusla has issued court summonses relating to 212 individual children during that period.
Paul Downes is the director of the educational disadvantage centre in DCU.
Former Minister and Roscommon / Galway TD Denis Naughten says child benefit should be withheld from parents whose children aren't going to class.
The children's charity Barnardos says this isn't the way to tackle poor school attendance and is calling for additional family supports to address the issue.
Deputy Naughten says a streamlined system would save the state time and resources:
However, Barnardos says this isn't the way to tackle poor school attendance.
But Suzanne Connolly, the chief executive of the children's charity, is calling for additional family supports to address the issue:
Teenager Dies Following Carlow Crash Overnight
Tributes Pouring In For Westmeath Malaga Victims
Enterprise Minister Defends Higher Hotel VAT Rate
Laois Man Crash Victim To Be Laid To Rest Tomorrow
Laois Council Seeks Inclusion In 'Living City' Initiative
Westmeath Man Named Supreme Milk Quality Champion
Offaly Councillor Sees "Great Potential" For Village
Legislation Providing Paid Leave For Early Pregnancy Loss To Go To Cabinet
Offaly Councillor Seeks More Roads Funding In North Of County
Revenue Seize Contraband Worth Over €153k
Plans Lodged For New 24-Hour Automated Car Wash in Laois
Westmeath School Joins Expanded Online Admissions System
Offaly Soccer Club Seeks Green Light For Major Facilities Expansion
Laois Senator Warns Midlands STEM Progress At Risk Without New Funding
Offaly ICSA Sheep Chair Hits Out At Factories Over Lamb Prices
Calls For New Affordable Housing Strategy In Offaly
"Every Parent's Worst Nightmare" - Three Westmeath People Die In Malaga Crash
Offaly Community Group Points Finger At Renewable Energy Operators Over Road Damage
Defence Forces To Carry Out Training Exercise In Offaly
Gardai Ask Public For Help In Locating Missing Laois Teenager