Written answers

Tuesday, 27 November 2007

Department of Education and Science

Special Educational Needs

8:00 pm

Photo of Paul GogartyPaul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 489: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the options available to provide the most appropriate education from September 2008 for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin, if she will ask a school to review their enrolment policy in this matter; the steps she will take to ensure that this child receives the most appropriate education within a reasonable distance of their home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30748/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for the establishment of special classes for autism and for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE will continue to establish additional autism classes where the need arises in both special schools and mainstream schools. I have arranged for the details supplied by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

In formulating an admissions policy a school must ensure it is lawful. In particular, it must act in accordance with section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 (as amended by Section 50 of the Equality Act, 2004). Parents who consider that their child has been refused enrolment unfairly or in contravention of section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 (as amended) should initiate a Section 29 appeal against the Board of Management of the school concerned.

Details on appealing decisions on enrolment under section 29 of the Education Act (as amended by Section 4 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2007), are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

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