Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress of the application by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15853/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has not received any notification that the person referred to by the Deputy has been refused enrolment to the school in question. My Department has requested the National Educational Welfare Board, or NEWB, to contact the parents of the person referred to by the Deputy. The NEWB is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. My Department has also written to the parents informing them of their right, under section 29 of the Education Act 1998, to appeal a decision by any recognised school to refuse enrolment to their child.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 provides parents with an appeal process where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Where an appeal under section 29 is upheld, the Secretary General of my Department may direct a school to enrol a pupil.

Information regarding the section 29 appeals procedures, including an appeals application form and contact details for the relevant section of my Department, has been sent to the parent of the student referred to by the Deputy. To date, no such appeal has been lodged with my Department. The parent has also been advised to contact the senior educational welfare officer for the area to seek assistance in the matter.