A Westmeath couple have appeared before Mullingar District Court prosecuted by the National Education Welfare Board for not having their daughter in school.
The family, who cannot be named to protect the identity of their daughter, emigrated to the UK in recent weeks, but in the last three years their daughter, now almost 15, has had very poor school attendance.
She hasn’t attended for a single day since this school year started.
In the school year 2011-2012 she missed 68 out of 167 days, and in 2012-2013 she missed 99 out of 167 days and was rarely on time for the roll, the court heard.
The girl’s mother said she’d had a difficult time with her daughter and couldn’t get her to school.
The couple, who have five other children, have been given a month to prove that they have enrolled the girl in school in the UK.
Judge Hughes said the woman must impose discipline in her household.
