Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018
217. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who has been expelled from school and who has not attended a school since November 2017. [7216/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, a parent, or a student over 18 years of age, can make an appeal to the Secretary General of my Department where a school board of management have decided to refuse to enrol a child, suspended a student for more than 20 school days or permanently expelled a student.
I can confirm that my Department has received a Section 29 appeal in relation to this student following his permanent expulsion by the school board of management. The appeal hearing before an independent section 29 appeals committee was held on 1 February 2018. My Department awaits the determination of the section 29 appeals committee. Once the determination is received, my Department will forward it to the parents and the school. A previous section 29 appeal against the student’s suspension by the school board of management was not upheld by an independent section 29 appeals committee.
In addition, my Department funds a special education home tuition grant scheme to provide a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement. In the event that no placement is available as confirmed by the National Council for Special Education, my Department will consider applications under the home tuition grant scheme, where the child can receive 20 hours home tuition per week until a placement becomes available.
