Mr. Mark O'Connor:

I can address some of the issues raised by both Senators, the issue of discipline and the role of the Garda Síochána. I am aware of one particular case which worries us with regard to the involvement of the Garda Síochána and the HSE.

A parent told me about her son who was in a mainstream class but he had issues with the teaching process. He was at times quite boisterous in the class, jumping up to answer questions, for example. The school decided to teach him apart from the rest of the class in a small room, which his mum referred to as an isolation chamber. The young chap, being reasonably clever, decided that if there was no light in the room they would not be able to use the room so he took out the bulb and broke it into the bin. However, the next day they put him back into the room in the darkness. I have seen pictures of the room and the window is small. He then thought, quite logically, that if he broke the window they would definitely not be able to keep him in the room. He broke the window and the school expelled him. He is the kind of guy I assume the HSE and the Garda Síochána will have objections about him going to another school. This is a dangerous precedent and the problems arose because his needs were not met in the first place.

I have a concern about catchment areas. Our position is that Traveller children, children with special educational needs, children from other countries, should, in so far as possible, be able to attend their local school. As mentioned by Deputy Ó Ríordáin, quite a number of schools place soft barriers. There is an issue with regard to secondary schools, in particular, principals who are trying to protect the 100% record of students progressing to university. For example, children with special educational needs are not facilitated by the provision of the applied leaving certificate curriculum because that will not allow for 100% record of students going to UCD or where ever. That is a particular issue.