Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can appreciate what the Deputy is saying. That is why two changes are being made in the legislation. One change gives the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, a right to make a submission to the section 29 hearing. The second gives the NCSE a separate power to designate a school as suitable. While it is certainly very unfortunate that a section 29 procedure would be used, bearing in mind the guidelines and facilitation that are being put there to try to ensure such a breakdown does not arise, I am also ensuring that if it has to go to hearing, there is an alternative, namely, that the NCSE can designate a suitable alternative. Moreover, if it goes the section 29 route, the NCSE itself can be a part of that process.

At the end of the day, if the matter comes to the point of an institution saying that it cannot continue, it has to be adjudicated in some way that is fair to all sides. Section 29 is a long stop that has to be there but I hope these measures will offer alternatives to parents who are facing the sort of situation the Deputy describes.

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