Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
388. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure in place for a family with a child with mild learning difficulties that is unable to secure a second level place for the child in their area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55187/17]
View answerMy Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled students with special educational needs, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled s/he will have access to an appropriate education.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is a separate independent statutory agency, is responsible through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for planning and coordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs. Each SENO works in an assigned local area with parents, schools, teachers, psychologists, health professionals and other staff who are involved in the provision of services in that area for children with special educational needs.
Parents/guardians of children with special needs who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local SENO for information on available places. The local SENO contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.
The enrolment of a child to a school, however, is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools. Parents are advised to seek to enrol their child, by applying in writing, to their school/s of their choice as early as possible.
It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to publish its enrolment policy.
Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to either the relevant Educational Training Board or to the Secretary General of this Department.
