Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and everyone else for their attendance. Unfortunately, I have another meeting to attend so I will have to leave shortly and may miss the second half of the meeting.

A number of groups are represented, namely, Travellers and children with special needs. That is where the problem lies. I raised this issue in the Dáil last November and subsequently when groups representing Travellers appeared before the committee. It is wrong to say there is no clear policy on this. The Constitution guarantees the right to free primary education for every child. That is a clear policy and we have to start from the position that it must be implemented by the Government. I do not always agree with the Minister but in response to questions I have asked in the Dáil, he was clear that the policy could not be clearer and that this practice is not acceptable. Unfortunately, that message has not got out to schools. The Minister has made it absolutely clear that all pupils who are enrolled in a school should attend for the full day unless exempted from doing so for exceptional circumstances such as medical reasons. There are no ifs or buts. This is not acceptable and the practice that has been highlighted has to end. The Minister needs to state this more clearly and in a manner other than in written answers in the Dáil, although that is also a very clear way of setting out the position, in fairness to him.

There is no doubt that when this happens it is a suspension and should be followed up. Parents need to be empowered to know that the procedure is set out in section 29 of the Education Act 1998. Colleagues have asked me what the position is a number of times recently and it is very clear. When parents are asked to collect children early, they should ask for a statement from the school in writing. Schools will be reluctant to give one in writing because they have no grounds to make such a request. I would certainly ask for that if I were the parent in such a situation. A more drastic action, which parents might have to consider, is to ignore the call but that would be difficult to do because there may be a medical issue.

I take issue with the idea that there is no clear policy. We cannot accept that position because children are entitled to go to school. This issue is clearly one for children with disabilities and children of Traveller ethnicity. I do not have much more to say but I hope that what we are hearing today will spur action that will help bring to an end these silent suspensions. They have to end. The Minister stated in November 2018 and again more recently in reply to a question I asked in the Dáil that he is engaging with Tusla on this issue. The relevant section of Tusla probably needs to be merged into the Department of Education and Skills.

I have no further questions. That is my position and the position of my party. It also seems to be the Government's position. Schools need to get the message. They obviously need support and services but the fundamental right to education is provided for in the Constitution. It is the only right in the Constitution that costs money and it is very clearly set down.