Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1032. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the number of young persons who have had suspensions or expulsions notified to her Department in this academic year since January 2022; if she will provide the comparable data for the period 12 months previously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30402/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, schools are obliged to notify Tusla (educational welfare officers) when the school intends to expel a student. The educational welfare officer shall, after receiving a notification, make all reasonable efforts to ensure that provision is made for the continued education of the student to whom the notification relates.
The data requested by the Deputy in relation to expulsions is contained in the following table. Given the period of school closures in 2020 and 2021, detail on previous school years is also included for comparative purposes.
|
- |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
2020-2021 |
2021-2022 August – December |
2021-2022 January – Present |
|
Total intentions to expel received |
378 |
228 |
141 |
71 |
114 |
|
Post-primary intentions |
322 |
206 |
127 |
70 |
107 |
|
Primary intentions |
56 |
22 |
17 |
1 |
7 |
|
Total expulsions confirmed |
255 |
155 |
100 |
53 |
57 |
|
Post-primary confirmed |
214 |
140 |
87 |
52 |
52 |
|
Primary confirmed |
41 |
15 |
13 |
1 |
5 |
Schools are also obliged to report to Tusla where a student is suspended for a period of not less than 6 consecutive school days.
Data on suspensions from January 2022 is not yet available as the data in respect of suspensions is submitted by schools to Tusla via the Annual Attendance Return/Student Absence Report at the end of the school year.
