Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 5

Written Answers. - School Suspensions.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

151 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science the facilities he has put in place to deal with the implications of the appeals system on second level school suspensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21424/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998, gives parents, and students who have reached the age of 18 the right to appeal certain decisions made by a board or a person acting on behalf of the board, including decisions to suspend a student, to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science. The legislation provides that the Minister for Education and Science will establish one or more appeals committees for the purposes of hearing and determining appeals and that such committees will act in accordance with such procedures as may be determined from time to time by the Minister, following consultation with the partners in education.

Draft procedures for the appeals process have been prepared and issued to the partners and consultations on the draft procedures are under way. At the same time, planning is under way in the Department for the putting in place of the necessary structures to ensure that the appeals system can operate effectively. In this context, consideration is being given to the resource requirements of the new system.