Parents who take their kids out of school to go on holidays may be sending the wrong signal to their children, according to Shane Coleman.

The Newstalk Breakfast presenter was speaking after it emerged that more and more families are taking their children out of school early to get better holiday deals.

The Irish Times reports that primary schools have warned parents that the growing trend is disrupting children’s education and may trigger notifications to social services.

School leaders reportedly believe that higher peak-season prices and a post-pandemic urge to travel are part of the reason for the increase.

They’re warning that they are having to send an increasing number of school absence reports to Tusla – as they are mandatory when a child misses 20 or more school days.

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. Image: Alan Dawson / Alamy Stock Photo

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Shane said parents could be sending the wrong message by taking children out of school.

“I don’t want to come across as censorious of parents or condemning parents or anything like that – and have I ever taken my kids out? Have they ever missed a day for something? I’m sure they have,” he said.

“But I’m generally not mad on the idea of taking kids out two weeks early so they can go on holidays.

“I just think it sends a signal about prioritizing and maybe, you don’t always have to be there, you don’t always have to turn up.

Tourist in Rome taking a photo of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy, Europe

“Those are messages that slightly jar with me a little bit because I think you should always turn up and you should always be there.

“I think there is, kind of, a time for holidays and there is a time for school. That’s kind of where I stand.

“I’m sure that sounds po-faced but it’s what I try and practice and probably don’t always succeed in practicing, I should stress.”

Ciara Kelly in the Newstalk studio.

Fellow presenter Ciara Kelly said she has “a lot of sympathy for parents on this one” – noting that it can cost twice as much to go away during school holidays.

She also suggested the school shut-down during the pandemic has devalued the importance of attendance for some people.

“Personally, and I probably said this at the time, I think education should have been viewed as an essential service like health, like retail, like transport,” she said.

“I don’t think our schools should have been the only ones closed for the length of time they were closed in Europe compared to other schools – that was a bad mistake.

“I think that was the message we sent to parents and to families – it’s OK that we leave your children at home for months at time - sure that’s grand.

“Parents are now taking schools and the Department of Education at their word – that it’s all a bit flexible isn’t it? I think we’re reaping that now.

“I think we sent a bad a message and now we’re like, ‘oh but come back school is so important’ – well you didn’t say that like two years ago.”