Vol. 473 No. 1
233 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she has received a representation from a person (details supplied) in County Limerick regarding the expulsion of his son from a school in Limerick; if so, if she has satisfied herself that the board of management at the school acted properly in this matter and that the board followed the guidelines laid down by the Department of Education when it dealt with this case. [24426/96]
I am aware of the representations made by the Deputy in this case. Matters in relation to school discipline and the selection and enrolment of pupils are matters for individual school authorities and I do not have the legal authority to interfere in decisions made by schools in these areas.
The pupil in question was excluded from school in May 1992 for a serious breach of the school code of behaviour. My Department through its guidelines on school discipline lays considerable stress on the use of suspensions and expulsions only as a last resort. Where parents are dissatisfied with disciplinary decisions, it is open to them to appeal the decision to the board of management of the school involved. My Department has made inquiries in the matter and I understand that the appeals procedure was followed and that the parents met with and made representations to the board of management of the school concerned. However, the earlier decision to exclude the pupil was upheld by the board.
