AQW 34075/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the (i) number of fines issued by the Education Authority to parents and carers for school non-attendance issues; and (ii) total of those fines, in each of the last five years.
Asked by Michelle Guy MLA on 21 October 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 21 October 2025
- Answer due by
- 5 November 2025
- Answered
- 4 November 202514 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The number of parents or guardians fined by the Magistrates Court for school non-attendance over the past five years is as follows:
| 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | |
| Number of parents / guardians of children who have been fined by the Magistrates Court | 21 | 27 | 17 | 21 | 15 |
| Total Value of fines issued to parents by the Magistrates Court | £5197 | £7655 | £3880 | £5270 | £4600 |
Please note that the Education Authority does not issue fines directly; these are determined and imposed by the Magistrates Court.