Attendance

Below you will find information on our DEIS plan for Attendance. The co-ordinator for this pillar is Simon Creane.

Rationale for our Attendance Targets:

In post-primary DEIS schools nationally, the rate of students absent for more than 20 days stood at 30.7% in 2022/23, compared with 19.5% in non-DEIS schools. International research identifies this pattern as chronic absenteeism. Our DEIS attendance strategy prioritises those most affected, focusing on students missing more than 20 school days in a given year. In 2024/25, our whole-school chronic absentee rate was 36% (Junior Cycle 30%, Senior Cycle 43%). Our rationale is that early, targeted intervention at Junior Cycle and Transition Year will help drive a positive whole-school reduction. To achieve this, we have set ambitious but realistic targets: These targets directly support student retention, progression, and wellbeing, ensuring that those most at risk of educational disadvantage are consistently present, engaged, and supported. They also provide a transparent framework for monitoring progress and accountability. Achieving these reductions will strengthen academic outcomes, foster resilience, and build stronger partnerships with families and communities — advancing the DEIS mission of delivering equality of opportunity for all learners.

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