Ten parents have been sent to prison for failing to make sure their children attended primary or secondary school.

A report in the Irish Examiner has used figures from the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) to reveal that 94 summonses were issued against parents last year.

It also showed that 52 prosecutions ended in convictions, resulting in ten parents being jailed.

NEWB regional manager Michael Doyle told the newspaper that the group was working to ensure more children were made to take part in the education system in Ireland.

This includes different agencies working with schools to boost attendance rates of pupils.

Earlier this month, the parents of a secondary school girl were sentenced to spend 21 days in jail for not ensuring that their 15-year-old child went to school, reported the Irish Times.

She had only been in attendance for 15 days over the last two years, the court heard.

Written by Donal Walsh

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