Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Schools must be made aware that in the first couple of years of the operation of section 29, the vast majority of appeals went against the schools. However, in more recent years, where schools have proper policies and procedures in place, they have won appeals against the students at a rate of three or four to one. It comes down to having the proper procedures in place. This is an issue which teachers have suggested should be examined. I welcome the fact that the House is having a debate, albeit an alarmist one on the part of the Opposition.

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