Parents of children who do not have a school attendance record of at least 95 per cent will not be eligible for a €400 child supplement, Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia said.

Addressing a press conference held to launch a joint policy document between the Social Solidarity and Education ministries, Dr Farrugia said the policy would not affect parents whose children missed a minimal amount of school but was targeted at habitual absenteeism.

He said the funds, which would be provided at the beginning of next scholastic year, would be given out to families highlighted by the education ministry.

“Education officials will take note of those children who attend at least 95 per cent. Those which attend less than that will not be eligible for the funds which we administer,” Dr Farrugia said.

The supplement would see families who earn a maximum net income of €11,000, receive €400 for the first three children and a further €200 for the rest of their children.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo meanwhile said the measures were not as draconian as some might have feared.

“We received hundreds of emails of parents concerned that they would not be able to keep their sick children at home. This will not be the case,” he said, adding that he would no longer tolerate the abuse of health certificates to justify excessive truancy.

Dr Farrugia said the policy was not only an educational one, but was aimed at combating intergenerational poverty.

“This is an issue of children perpetuating their parents’ legacy. We want to drag people out of the benefit trap,” he said, adding that some 13,000 families and 23,000 children would benefit from the supplementary funds.

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