Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 March 2014
84. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding suspension from school in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11488/14]
View answerSection 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year. My Department has no authority to compel a school to admit a pupil, except in the case of an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 being upheld.
Section 29 appeal application forms are available on my departments website at the following link http://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/Appeal-against-Permanent-Exclusion-Suspension-or-Refusal-to-Enrol/Section-29-Appeals-Application-Form.doc. Application forms are also available directly from Section 29 Appeals Administration Unit, Department of Education and Skills, Friars Mill Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, phone 044 9337008.
The Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. Contact details for the EWS are Educational Welfare Service, Child and Family Agency, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by phone 01-8738623.
