asked the Minister for Education the measures he proposes to take to provide education for children who are expelled from primary schools and who are refused admission to other primary schools in their area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Expelled Primary School Pupils.
11.
Under the rules for national schools the board of management are charged with the direct government of the school and the acceptance of pupils for enrolment. There is no specific provision in these rules for the expulsion of pupils. I am satisfied that boards and teachers exercise their responsibilities with due regard to the provisions of Bunreacht na hÉireann, the rules for national schools and the School Attendence Act. If the Deputy is aware of particular cases and is prepared to supply the details I will have them investigated with a view to having the problems resolved.
Is the Minister saying that children are not removed from school and prevented from returning? Is that what the Minister is saying in his reply or that there is no provision whereby they can do this?
There is no specific provision in the rules for the expulsion of pupils. However, the admission of pupils is a matter for the board of management, again within the rules. There is an area here which possibly will have to be clarified. That is why I invited the Deputy to contact me if he has any particular cases of difficulty and I will try to assist him.
Would I be correct in saying that if a child is removed from a school on the grounds of being disruptive and is not allowed to return, that that is not within the competence of the school to do? If this happens to a second child in the same family in a different school, does the Minister think that there is something seriously wrong?
I would not like, for two reasons, to give an opinion to the Deputy on a matter which has legal connotations: (a) the facts put forward to him and (b) more importantly my competence to give an appropriate opinion. Obviously, I could not hazard a guess or give an opinion on the case he mentions without knowing the full facts. I would prefer that the opinion be given by somebody who is qualified to give such an opinion.
I do not think the Minister's reply is satisfactory because while I will give him the case there are a considerable number of cases which have come to my attention over a number of years. Could I ask the Minister what is the correct procedure for a school if a child is disruptive and the teacher will not allow the child to be in the class because he is disrupting the teaching of others? The explanation of the school is that they must maintain discipline. Therefore, they removed the child who was not allowed to return to class. What is the correct procedure in that case? Is the school supposed to refer the child to a particular special school? Are they supposed to provide a separate and special education for that child?
There are a number of procedures which follow such an incident. Obviously, if the child is disruptive it is neither in the child's interest nor that of his fellow pupils that he would continue to disrupt the school. A new environment and a new school may be the proper place for that child. The application of common sense between parents, the board of management and adjoining boards of management and possibly the utilisation of the special initiatives which are under way in some parts of the city for disruptive children could lead to a solution of the problem. I cannot say to the Deputy what the solution to the problem is without knowing the full facts. That is why I was careful to ask the Deputy on a number of occasions that if he has a particular problem to come to me and between us we will try to find a solution to it.