Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
318. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education how many times her Department has forced a school to take a child who was not awarded a school place in each of the last three years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6480/24]
View answerThe Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.
Where a board of management makes a decision to refuse admission, 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.
This department has no authority to compel a school to admit a student, except in circumstances where an appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 has been allowed and the appeals committee directs that the school admit the child concerned.
The number of appeals allowed under Section 29 where a student was initially refused admission to enrol for the relevant year is as follows:
|
- |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
|
Total no. of Admission Appeals Allowed |
22 |
8 |
19 |
If a parent is unsuccessful with a Section 29 appeal they may be able to qualify for home tuition. The Home Tuition Grant Scheme is available to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. Home tuition is provided as an interim measure only for children for whom a placement in a recognised school is not currently available and should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a school placement.
Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) has the responsibility to support a family when applying or home tuition if the child/young person is without a school placement. Home tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition and the tutor has no contractual relationship with the Department of Education.
If a parent/guardian is unsuccessful sourcing a tutor for home tuition they should contact Tusla Education Support Service (TESS). Application forms for the home tuition scheme for students who are temporarily without a school place, are without an offer of a school place and are actively seeking a school placement in a recognised school grant scheme are available from the local Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) or the appointed social worker. Educational Welfare Officers are available to assist parents with the application for home tuition, if needed.
Section 67(3) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 was enacted in August 2022 and provides Tusla with the power to designate a school for a child to attend. In the period since, the Educational Welfare Services (EWS) have completed one designation under Section 67.
