Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Schools have indicated to me that they have a problem with section 29. However, it should be noted that of all the appeals lodged under section 29, two thirds are resolved in favour of the school and only one third in favour of the students. Schools seem to have the idea that the appeals system is always against them but in reality, that is not the case. I have already indicated that I would be prepared to amend section 29 or to deal with issues around it, perhaps on the procedures — whatever the task force recommends. Dr. Maeve Martin indicated in June that the task force would not look at section 29, but I asked her to do so because it had been highlighted to me as an issue. I am prepared to look at anything that will support the learning environment for students in a classroom and the teaching environment for teachers.

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