Parents won’t be fined for taking kids out of school to go on holidays

Unlike in some other EU countries, parents here will not face penalties for taking their kids out of school during term time.

We all know that flights, accommodation and package holidays are often much more affordable while schools are in session and that they shoot up in July and August when the kids are finally off for the summer. Parents who take advantage of the deals during the term in Bavaria in Germany face fines of up to €1,000. Police were stationed at airports in the region recently to check for school-aged children. Families caught were asked to show a letter from the child's school saying the child had permission to be out out school. "We call the school to check if they are out of class without permission. If the teacher insists on the presence of the children, we have to bring them back," a police officer told The Telegraph. However, the Minister for Education has said that no such penalties will apply here. Tusla, the child and family agency, can however get involved if children are missing a significant amount of school. "They do have the power to impose penalties, but it isn't something that is imposed in the first instance," Richard Bruton said. "They seek to work with the school, with the education welfare officer, with a home-school liason officer, if there is one in the school, to get the best outcome for the child.