Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1196: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason no school place has been made available for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 for over one and a half years. [25389/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1197: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she will take to ensure that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will be accommodated in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [25390/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1198: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps which can be taken by the parents of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 to ensure that their child receives educational instruction under the Education for People with Disabilities Act 2005. [25391/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1199: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school in Dublin 3 refused to teach a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12, after only a day; and the further reason that this person's family had to wait over a year and a half before another school in Dublin 8 made a decision that it could not accommodate this person's multiple disabilities. [25392/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1196 to 1199, inclusive, together.

I can confirm that in relation to the pupil referred to by the Deputy, the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, recently attended a meeting with the principal of the school in question and the educational welfare office, EWO, to discuss an appropriate educational placement there. I understand that at this stage the school is considering the enrolment of the child. If the child is enrolled in the school it is a matter for the school authorities to seek additional special educational needs supports for this pupil and the SENO is awaiting a decision from the school in this regard.

Responsibility for ensuring the enrolment of the child in an appropriate educational facility is a matter for both the EWO and the SENO. I have asked my officials to liaise with the EWO and the SENO to ensure that this case is dealt with as a priority and that the child in question is enrolled in an appropriate setting as quickly as possible.

Where a board of management refuses to enrol a student in a school the parent of the student or, where the student has reached 18 years of age, the student themselves, following the conclusion of any appeal procedures at school level, has a statutory entitlement under section 29 of the Education Act 1998, to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science. Under the appeal process, a committee is established to hear the appeal. Oral hearings are conducted with a minimum of formality. In most cases appeals must be dealt within 30 days. Where appropriate, the Secretary General may give whatever directions to the board of management that are considered necessary to remedy the matter complained of. However I would hope that the involvement of the EWO and the SENO in this case will resolve this matter without the need for such an avenue to be taken.