A new study from the ESRI has found that school absence leads to lower educational qualifications and poorer wellbeing in early adulthood. The report details that even a short spell of absence of one to two days at age thirteen are linked to lower Leaving Certificate grades. But are these figures a little too stark and is it putting the focus too much on parents?

Joining Shane to discuss this is Freelance Journalist Niamh O’Reilly and Rachel Harper, Principal at St Patrick’s National School, Greystones.