Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
34. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 388 of 21 July 2020, if the decision will be reversed not to grant an exemption for three pupils to allow them to repeat their final year of education in a special needs school (details supplied) in Dublin 22. [19295/20]
View answerAs outlined previously, special schools funded by my Department are classified as primary national schools and are intended, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 64(1) of the Rules for National Schools, to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from the age of 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year.
Special schools may however seek approval from my Department for an exemption from Rule 64(1) in respect of students over the age of 18 who are pursuing courses leading to accreditation on the National Qualifications Framework (e.g. Junior Certificate/LCA/FETAC 3).
A request for an exemption from Rule 64(1) can only be made by a school where:
1. The student is pursuing a course leading to accreditation on the National Qualifications Framework (e.g. Junior Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied/FETAC 3)
2. The student requires one additional year in order to complete their course
3. Retaining the student in the school for one school year will not prevent a younger pupil being enrolled there
4. Plans are in place to transition the student to a post-school setting at the end of the additional school year
Special schools are invited each year to make applications for exemptions from Rule 64(1) in respect of pupils who meet the above criteria. Where the criteria are met, my Department will approve the exemptions.
The school to which the Deputy refers has engaged in this process with my Department. I can also confirm that an application for exemptions, as referenced above, was made by the school. However, as the criteria were not met, it was not possible to approve the application. The school has been notified of this decision and the postition remains unchanged from my reply to the Deputy on 21st July 2020.
