Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school placement will be offered for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in September 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39791/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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School enrolment is a matter for Boards of Management. The parent in question should, therefore, apply for enrolment, in the normal way, to her relevant local schools. 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 Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Only where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld can the Secretary General of my Department direct a school to enrol a pupil.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by telephone at 01-8738700.