School absence in Ireland: the 20-day rule, Tusla and your note
In Ireland there is no set number of days a child is allowed to miss. What the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 does set is a reporting point: when a pupil has missed 20 school days or more in a school year, the school must tell Tusla's Education Support Service. Before that, parents give the school the reason for each absence, and Tusla strongly advises against holidays in term time. This page explains the Act, the 20-day report and what happens if attendance does not improve.
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What parents in Ireland should know
Every absence needs a reason
The Act requires parents to tell the principal the reason for an absence — for part of a day, a day or longer — following the procedure in the school's code of behaviour. A written note on return is the usual way; some schools use an app.
20 days is a reporting point, not an allowance
Once a pupil has missed 20 days or more in a school year, the principal must notify an educational welfare officer. Illness and holidays count towards the 20 days just like other absences.
Holidays in term time are discouraged
Tusla's Education Support Service strongly advises parents not to take children out of school for holidays during term time, because children miss work that is hard to catch up.
Help comes before court
An educational welfare officer's first job is to talk to the family and the school. Legal steps only follow a formal school attendance notice that a parent does not comply with.
Absence in Ireland: four steps
The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 sets the duties of parents and schools; your school's code of behaviour sets the detail. These are the steps that follow from both.
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1
Tell the school the reason
Let the school know why your child was absent, as its code of behaviour asks — usually a note when your child returns, sometimes through the school's app.
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2
Keep an eye on the total
Absences add up across the year. At 20 days the school must report to Tusla, whatever the reasons, and it may refer earlier if it is concerned.
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3
Talk to the school early
If something is keeping your child from school, speak to the school first. You can also ask Tusla's educational welfare service for advice; the Act obliges Tusla to give it.
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4
Respond to a notice
If Tusla serves a school attendance notice, it names the school and the date from which your child must attend. Not complying is an offence; showing that you made every reasonable effort is a defence.
Absence records: digital vs. paper notes
School absence in Ireland in detail
What the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 requires
Section 17 of the Act requires the parent of a child to cause the child to attend a recognised school on each school day, unless one of the listed exceptions applies — among them a sufficient cause for not attending. Section 18 requires the parent, whenever the child is absent for part of a day, a day or more, to tell the principal the reason, following the procedure in the school's code of behaviour. Section 21 requires the principal to keep a record of attendance and of the reasons for absence, and to notify an educational welfare officer in writing when a pupil is suspended for six days or more, has been absent on 20 or more school days in the school year, is removed from the register, or in the principal's opinion is not attending regularly. Absence for activities the school organises and authorises does not count as absence.
What happens after the 20-day report
When the educational welfare officer receives the report, the Act requires them to consult the pupil, the parents, the principal and anyone else appropriate, and to make all reasonable efforts to keep the child's education going. Tusla's Education Support Service says the school may also refer a child earlier if it is concerned about the days being missed. A parent who is having trouble getting a child to school can ask for advice and assistance, and the Act obliges the agency to give it. Holidays are not exempt: Citizens Information notes that the report includes the reason for each absence, a holiday among them, and Tusla strongly advises against term-time holidays.
School attendance notices and court
If the Child and Family Agency — Tusla — believes a parent is failing or neglecting to send a child to school, section 25 lets it serve a school attendance notice, after consulting the parents and the principal of the school it names and, as far as practicable, taking account of the parents' preference. The notice requires the child to attend that school on each school day from a set date and warns that failing to comply is an offence. A parent who contravenes the notice can be prosecuted in the District Court and face a fine or imprisonment; it is a defence to show that all reasonable efforts were made to get the child to school. Throughout, the Act's emphasis is on consultation first: the notice is the end of a process, not the start of one.
When a school may ask for medical evidence, and why a note from you is normally enough in most systems, is covered in School sick note rules.
How penalty notices work in England and Wales, for families moving between systems, is set out in School absence fines.
How schools keep excused and unexcused days per pupil in view across the year is shown in Manage school absences.
See the total before it reaches 20
The 20-day report is easier to prevent than to explain. SchuleVernetzt shows excused and unexcused days per pupil for the school year or any period, parents report absence in the parent portal, and teachers message families directly. It does not file reports with Tusla or raise an automatic alert at 20 days: that remains the school's responsibility.
Frequently asked questions about school absence in Ireland
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