Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1451: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if guidelines will be produced for schools on the way to facilitate teenage parents to remain in education. [1091/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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For young parents of school-going age, the most pressing needs are considered to be a sensitive response to their needs, appropriate counselling/mentoring and medical assistance, minimum disruption of tuition, and appropriate access to child care.

It will be appreciated that no two sets of circumstances will be identical and accordingly, school management practice will vary from case to case. Generally, when it comes to the attention of the school that a pupil is pregnant, the school authorities check to ensure that the girl is receiving appropriate medical assistance and counselling advice. Schools endeavour to be sensitive and understanding to the girl's needs while trying to ensure that her education is not neglected.

Home tuition is provided to pregnant schoolgirls who are absent from school during the later stages of pregnancy or immediately following the birth of a baby when attendance may be impractical.