Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy heard me highlighting this at all of the conferences this year and ensuring schools adopted inclusive enrolment policies, which is the best way to go.

Much of the evidence we have is anecdotal because the parents are not being refused but are being referred in a positive way to another school. For that reason they do not make a section 29 appeal. I encourage parents to do that, however, because it gives us the evidence on schools that are operating segregated enrolment policies. It would be open to regulation but schools must take children with special needs. As a result of the lack of evidence under section 29 appeals, even though there have been 88 appeals so far this year, we are carrying out an audit of identified areas to see the effect on the ground that will give me real information on numbers.

The Deputy referred to Mr. Derek West, the retired principal of Newpark Comprehensive School, who is correct in stating the numbers at the school. He, like some other principals in the country, is a victim of the success of his school in welcoming students and providing top class facilities that are well supported by the Department of Education and Science. Once a school gets a good name for dealing with children with special needs, the parents opt to send their children there. It is the parents on the ground who are making the decision and that ends up letting other schools off the hook.

There are a number of issues to take into consideration. The schools, however, have heard my views and the parents who decide to follow through can give the evidence we need and the audit will show me that evidence. After that I will be in a better position to decide what rules and regulations must be implemented.

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