Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
187 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a school placement at St. Mark’s junior national school, Springfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13345/04]
View answerThe compulsory school starting age in a national school is six and rule 64(1) of the rules for national schools provides that a child must be at least four years of age before he or she may be enrolled in a national school. Children of compulsory schoolgoing age must have a place in a national school and, overall, there are more than enough places available.
Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools that are not in a position to admit all pupils seeking entry to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act. In this regard a board of management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion.
Where a board of management refuses to enrol a student in a school, the parent of the student or the student, if he or she has reached 18 years of age, following the conclusion of any appeal procedures at school level, has a statutory entitlement under section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science. Under the appeal process, a committee is established to hear the appeal. Oral hearings are conducted with a minimum of formality. In most cases appeals must be dealt with in 30 days. Where appropriate, the Secretary General may give whatever directions to the board of management that are considered necessary to remedy the matter complained of.
188 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of children from Traveller families who were enrolled in primary schools in Dublin city and county as at 30 September 2003; the number who were enrolled in gaelscoileanna, Educate Together schools and schools in areas designated as disadvantaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13346/04]
View answerCompleted data are not yet available to my Department for the current academic year because a number of outstanding queries on returns from a small number of schools must be resolved before the current primary census is finalised. The information requested is available in respect of the previous academic year, 2002-03. This information is currently being compiled within my Department. I have made arrangements for my officials to forward this information directly to the Deputy.
