Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2004
203 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the provision that will be made for the continued education of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25955/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department was contacted directly by the parents. An application form and a copy of the procedures for hearing and determining appeals under section 29 of the Education Act 1998 have issued to the parents. Section 29 of the Act provides parents with an appeal process where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the board expels a student. An appeal will generally not be admitted unless it is made within 42 calendar days from the date the decision of the board of management was notified to the parent or student concerned. However, a longer period for making appeals may be allowed as an exception where it is accepted that circumstances did not permit the making of an appeal within the 42 day limit. Where an appeal under section 29 is upheld, the Secretary General of my Department may direct a school to enrol a pupil.
The National Educational Welfare Board can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The board has indicated that it will treat children for whom an appeal under section 29 has been unsuccessful as priority cases in offering such assistance.
