Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 5

Written Answers. - School Placement.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

168 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the procedures in place for finding a school for a child who has been expelled from a different school; the body, school or Department who has responsibility for assisting parents to find another school for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18439/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Enrolment in second level schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of individual schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking second level places in an area. This may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

The post-primary administration section of my Department at Portlaoise Road, Tullamore, County Offaly, gives assistance to parents when children are refused admission to, or excluded from, recognised post-primary schools. These cases come to my Department's attention either through a telephone call or letter from worried parents.

My Department endeavours, through a process of consultation with the schools and through the inspectorate, to secure a suitable school placement. It must be stressed again that, at postprimary level, my Department has no authority to compel a school to admit a pupil.

In more difficult situations, the national educational psychological service is available to assess pupils in order to determine the nature and extent of any special needs with a view to having them addressed in the most appropriate manner. This may involve the provision of additional support to the school. In such cases the inspector liaises with the school concerned when the appropriate resources have been sanctioned.