Child & Family Welfare In Ireland a child is defined as anyone under the age of 18. What a child is allowed to do is restricted by their age. Children & Education The Irish education system is made up of primary, second-level, third-level and further education. Children can attend primary school from the age of 4. To attend second-level they must be aged 12 on 1 January in the first school year of attendance. There is also an Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme for children of pre-school age. To be eligible for the scheme they must be at least 2 years and 8 months of age. Children & School Attendance Attendance at school (or receiving an education) is compulsory from the age of 6 up to age 16 or until students have completed 3 years of second-level education, whichever is the later. There is no compulsory early childhood education. Tusla - the Child and Family Agency is the national agency established to ensure the welfare of children and that that every child attends school regularly, or otherwise receives an appropriate minimum education. Parents and guardians have a legal obligation to ensure that their child attends a school or otherwise receives an education. If Tusla considers that the parents are failing in their obligation, it sends the parents a School Attendance Notice warning and if the parents fail to comply, they may be prosecuted. Children & Employment Employers cannot employ children under age 16 in regular full-time jobs. Children under age 14 cannot be employed. Children aged 14 and 15 may be employed as follows: ● Doing light work during the school holidays – they must have at least 21 days off work during this time ● As part of an approved work experience or educational programme where the work is not harmful to their health, safety or development. ● In film, cultural, advertising work or sport under licences issued by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation. ● Children aged 15 may do 8 hours a week light work in school term time. The maximum working week for children outside school term time is 35 hours or up to 40 hours if they are on approved work experience. ● The maximum working week for children aged 16 and 17 years old is 40 hours with a maximum of 8 hours a day.
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