Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
522. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if the National Education Welfare Board will engage with a family (details supplied) to resolve an issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24622/21]
View answerUnder Section 23 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 the board of management of every recognised school is legally obliged to prepare a code of behaviour in respect of the students registered in their school. This code of behaviour is prepared in consultation with the principal, teaching staff, the parents of students registered in the school and the Educational Welfare Officer (EWO). Furthermore the code of behaviour is prepared in accordance with such guidelines issued by Tusla Education Support Services.
In instances where the board of management of a recognised school is of the opinion that a student should be expelled from their school, the board must, before expelling the student, notify the EWO in writing and outline the reasons for the proposed expulsion. Section 24 (3) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 provides that the EWO shall, after receiving such notification, make all reasonable efforts to consult with the principal or person nominated by the principal, the student and his or her parents and convene a meeting attended by such of those persons as agree to attend such a meeting.
The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 section 24 (4) provides that a student shall not be expelled from a school before the passing of 20 school days following the receipt of a notification under section 24 of this act, by an Educational Welfare Officer (EWO). Where a board of management make a decision to permanent exclude a student, a parent/guardian can appeal that decision under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998, and an independent appeals committee will be appointed to consider the appeal.
Tusla Education Support Service (formerly the NEWB) received notification from the school on 28/04/21 in relation to the case referred to by the Deputy. The case has been allocated to the local Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) in the area who will be in contact with the family in the near future to offer advice and assistance in relation to this matter.
