School Absenteeism in Ireland at Alarming Levels
Student attendance rates in Ireland are raising alarm. According to data from the Tusla Education Support Service for the 2022/23 school year, 23.2 percent of post-primary students missed more than 20 school days in a year, placing them in the “chronic absentee” category. Education Minister Helen McEntee described the situation as “hugely alarming,” noting that in 2018/19 this figure had been 14.5 percent.
Officials point out that the pandemic has changed how students and families view school attendance. Research indicates that high absenteeism is not only a symptom of disadvantage but also a factor that deepens it. While illness is still considered the leading cause, environmental and social factors such as social media use, sleep patterns, lifestyle, and poor air quality in school buildings are increasingly being highlighted.