asked the Minister for Education if guidelines have been issued to second level schools, and in particular to community schools and colleges, on the matter of pupil suspension; if such guidelines are binding on these schools; if she will outline views on (a) the circumstances in which a pupil may be suspended indefinitely from school (b) if a school is bound to inform parents directly of the suspension of their child (c) whether a school is obliged to state the reasons for the suspension and (d) whether a means of appeal is or should be available to parents through a third party, other than the suspending authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - School Suspensions.
193.
No such guidelines have, as yet, been issued to post-primary schools. The study of the submissions which have been received and consideration of the outcome of the consultations held following publication of the report of the Committee on School Discipline have yet to be completed. It is intended that all the issues raised by the Deputy will be covered by the guidelines when issued.
In the interim, the position is that the question of disciplinary action is primarily a matter for the managerial authority of the school concerned, the manager in the case of secondary schools, board of management in the case of community and comprehensive schools and the vocational education committee in the case of vocational schools. Any difficulty which a parent may have arising from the disciplinary action taken in a particular case, in this regard should in the first instance be taken up with the managerial authority of the school concerned.
In relation to community schools the Deed of Trust provides that:
Subject to the provisions of these articles and to the direction of the Board, the Principal shall control the internal organisation, management and discipline of the School, shall exercise supervision over the teaching and non-teaching staff and shall have power for any cause which he or she judges adequate to dismiss subject to the approval of the Board or to suspend pupils from attendance but on the dismissal or suspension of any pupil the parent shall be informed that he or she has the right to appeal to the Board.