AQW 33229/22-27
Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley
Tabled Date: 09/10/2025
Answered On Date: 17/10/2025
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for a breakdown of how many times (i) the Education Authority has initiated legal action against parents, or carers, due to a child's school attendance; and (ii) these cases have related to children with special educational needs and disabilities, in each of the last 5 years.
Answer:
The number of parents/guardians of children who have had court action initiated (Magistrates Court) as follows: Office | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | Ballymena | 4 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 29 | Belfast | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Dundonald | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Omagh | 10 | 45 | 25 | 37 | 23 | Armagh | 25 | 30 | 6 | 11 | 17 | TOTAL | 52 | 87 | 47 | 60 | 70 |
(ii) The Education Authority’s Education Welfare Service does not hold this data or breakdown cases based on SEN. The case is taken against the Parent/Carer based on the level of co-operation. Under Article 45 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, it is the duty of parents who have a child of compulsory school age to ensure their child receives efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude, ability and to any special educational needs they may have. Paragraph 3 (1) of Schedule 13 to the 1986 Order states that it is the duty of a parent of a registered pupil of a school to secure their regular attendance at school. This applies to all children of compulsory school age who are on the roll of a school. Parents are legally responsible for making this happen.
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