Prosecuting parents for not having their children attend school is seen as "a last resort" by the National Education and Welfare Board (NEWB).
The first step in enforcing the attendance of children at school is a school attendance notice. These notices are issued to parents who fail to enrol their child in a school or to ensure that their child attends school regularly.
Last year, 196 such notices in respect of 137 children were issued by education and welfare officers to parents of children not attending school regularly. So far in this year 146 school attendance notices have been issued to 102 children.
When a notice is issued the situation is monitored and the parent is given every opportunity to address the underlying issues.
In cases where there is no change and the child remains out of school the board will consider prosecuting the parents.
In 2006, a total of 34 legal proceeding were taken against the parents of 17 children.
A spokeswoman for the NEWB said: "Taking legal action against a parent or guardian is a very serious matter and there must be a clear view that it will leave the family and the child in a better position."
