Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the legislative response that she will take in response to school discipline problems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13320/06]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amendments that her Department will bring forward to section 29 of the Education Act 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13322/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 157 together.

The balancing of rights in section 29 of the Education Act 1998 has been acknowledged by the task force on student behaviour in second level schools as one of those areas which prompted very many submissions. In its final report, the task force recommended that the legislation be amended to stress the rights of the compliant majority to learn while at the same time protecting the rights of the persistently disruptive student to an education. It also recommends that the timeframe involved in these appeals be looked at. In addition, the task force has recommended that my Department revisit the legislation, in particular sections 6 and 7 of the Education Act 1998 with a view to amendment. In launching the report on 14 March, I indicated a package of measures to tackle student behaviour issues, including a review of existing legislation to take account of the task force recommendations. I am committed to bringing forward amending legislation in this area as soon as this review is complete.