Vol. 481 No. 6
66 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties involved in enrolling pupils in secondary schools who may, for one reason or another, have left or been expelled from a school; the procedures open to parents or pupils who find themselves in such a position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16566/97]
I am aware that there may be difficulties involved in securing a school placement for pupils who have left or been excluded from a second-level school.
The selection and enrolment of pupils in second level schools is the responsibility of individual school managerial authorities.
The managerial authorities are also responsible for devising and applying a code of discipline in their schools. My Department has issued guidelines to schools to assist them in discharging their role in this area. These guidelines stress both the need for proportionality of response to incidents of misbehaviour and the use of expulsion only as a last resort.
A disciplinary ruling involving either exclusion or suspension may be appealed in the first instance to the appropriate management authority of the school concerned, normally the manager, board of management or Vocational Education Committee. If matters are not resolved at that level it is then open to parents to raise the matter with my Department which will liaise with the school and assist in securing an alternative school placement where necessary.
My Department's psychological service is available to assess pupils with special needs in order that the most appropriate provision can be made. In addition, placement may be possible on either a youth encounter project or a youthreach programme both of which are designed to cater for pupils whose needs can best be dealt with outside of the mainstream school system.
Proposals in the areas of pupil exclusions and school attendance are under consideration within my Department at present and will be addressed further in the context of forthcoming legislation.
