A Roscommon Deputy says a parent's social welfare should be docked if they don't send their children to school.
New figures released today show Tusla has sent warning letters to nearly 3,000 parents in the past seven years, for their child's non attendance at school.
232 'school attendance notices' were issued last year, according to freedom of information figures.
They're sent if a child is absent from school for over 20 days in a year - without a valid reason.
It can result in court action against the parents - but Independent TD Denis Naughten says their social welfare should be cut instead.
''There is the condition under the payment of the children's allowance and child benefits that the children must be accessing an education. Clearly these children are not accessing an education. And clearly there is an issue there in those households that needs to be urgently addressed, and we do need to directly engage with those families to achieve that.''
