Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 February 2019
174. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will be provided with a place in a school for the school year commencing September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9067/19]
View answerThe selection and enrolment of pupils is the responsibility of the management authorities in each individual school. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This 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 disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy the principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parent’s choice are respected.
Under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 where a schools board of management make a decision to refuse enrolment, suspend a student for 20 or more days or permanently exclude a student, a parent/guardian can appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Where the appeal involves an Education and Training Board (ETB) school, the appeal must be made to the local ETB in the first instance. Further information on the Section 29 Appeals process is available on my Departments website at the following link:
https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/Appeal-against-Permanent-Exclusion-Suspension-or-Refusal-to-Enrol/
In addition, the Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the statutory body which may be able to assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school placement for their child. The EWS can be contacted at Educational Welfare Service, Child and Family Agency, Ground Floor, Brunel Building, Heuston South Quarter Dublin 8 or by phone at 01-7718815.
