Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 5

Written Answers - Special Educational Needs.

Dan Neville

Question:

169 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of boys of secondary school age currently without a school placement; the number of these who have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or with specific learning disability and behavioural problems; and the action he proposes to take to deal with the problem. [9606/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

My Department does not have details of cases of children without a school placement except where the assistance of my Department has been sought in the matter by the parents or guardians of such children.

My Department gives assistance in securing placement in individual cases where, for whatever reason, a pupil is without a mainstream school place and the parents or guardian seek my Department's assistance. This can arise where a pupil has been excluded as a result of disruptive behaviour and where alternative arrangements need to be made. In these circumstances, my Department endeavours through a process of consultation with schools and through the inspectorate to assist his-her placement in another school. There are 91 placement cases currently in progress at post primary level. Some 76 relate to boys and 15 to girls. My Department does not differentiate in any way on the basis of gender in dealing with these cases. Many of these cases can be characterised by specific learning disability and behavioural problems, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 provides for an appeal to the Secretary General of my Department where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the board refuses to enrol a student; suspends a student for a cumulative total of more than 20 days in an academic year; or expels a student from the school. An independent appeals mechanism is in place to deal with section 29 appeals. Under the Act, an appeal must be dealt with within 30 days with a provision for a 14 day extension to this period if required.

The Education (Welfare) Act 2000, which came into effect on 5 July 2002, provides for the introduction of a comprehensive school attendance service, with responsibility for school attendance being given to a newly established body – the National Educational Welfare Board. An educational welfare officer will be assigned to every school for the purposes of the Act. The Act requires schools to draw up school attendance strategies in order to promote regular attendance and to foster an appreciation of learning amongst the students. The strategy will focus on arrangements for the identification of children who are at risk of dropping out of school at an early stage so that appropriate interventions may be put in place. The board will also assist schools in discharging their responsibilities under the Act.