Vol. 484 No. 3
349 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether it is appropriate that a student (details supplied) in Dublin 11 should be excluded from pursuing his education to leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21865/97]
I am aware of the Deputy's representations in this case. School discipline matters are the responsibility of individual school authorities and my Department does not normally intervene in decisions made by schools in individual cases. However, my Department has issued guidelines to assist schools in discharging their responsibilities in this area. While the guidelines recognise there is a need for sanctions to register disapproval of unacceptable behaviour, they stress the need for proportionality of response to incidents of misbehaviour and the use of expulsion only as a last resort. In reaching decisions in individual cases, school authorities have to balance carefully the needs of individual students with their responsibility to the general body of their students. Arrangements are being made to have the matter raised with the school concerned with a view to ensuring that the boy in question resumes his studies as soon as possible.
