Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Jun 1994

Vol. 443 No. 9

Written Answers. - School Discipline.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

74 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education the urgent action, if any, she will take to have a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 reinstated in a school; the procedures that are laid down for disciplinary action; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

75 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education the rules laid down for observance by schools in relation to appropriate procedures and discipline prior to the expelling of a student; if any formal appeal procedure exists; if not, if she will draw up rules of procedures and discipline; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.

My Department had no prior knowledge of the case referred to by the Deputy. I am having inquiries made and I will advise him of the outcome in due course.

The general position is as follows. Under the rules for national schools, no pupil shall be struck off the rolls for breaches of discipline without the prior consent of the patron and unless alternative arrangements are made for the enrolment of the pupil at another suitable school. My Department has a complaints procedure which is available to parents or guardians of children attending national school who wish to appeal a decision taken by a board of management. It is appropriate that complaints are referred in the first instance to the board of management, which is the body charged with the direct government of the school. A complaint which is not resolved at that level can be referred to my Department for investigation in accordance with an agreed complaints procedure.

My Department issued "Guidelines Towards a Positive Policy for Schools Behaviour and Discipline" to all post-primary schools in October 1991. It requested each school authority to draw up a code of behaviour for its school, which would have regard to the rights and responsibilities of management, teachers, pupils and parents. It advised that expulsion should be resorted to only in the most extreme cases of indiscipline and only after every effort at rehabilitation has failed and every other sanction has been exhausted. However, the document did not lay down specific procedures to govern cases of expulsion. Circumstances will vary from school to school and it is only those intimately involved with a particular school who can draw up a code of discipline appropriate for that school. Where a case remains unresolved at school level, an appeal may be made, in the first instance, to the appropriate school management authority i.e. a board of management in the case of community or comprehensive schools, vocational education committee in the case of vocational schools and community colleges and the manager or board of management in the case of voluntary secondary schools. Parents who feel aggrieved with a decision of school management to expel a student may bring the matter to the attention of my Department, which arranges for appropriate investigation.