Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 442: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 who has a speech and learning disability cannot get a place in a school until August 2008 despite being promised they would start in January 2008. [9202/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 443: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the options a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 has in relation to their education since they cannot talk and have not been to school since September 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9203/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 442 and 443 together.

The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resources to schools to support children with special educational needs. The SENO is also a focal point of contact for parents and schools and their role includes identifying appropriate school placements.

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 or by telephone at 046 9486400. I wish to advise the Deputy that the matter of the enrolment of a pupil in a school is a matter for the Board of Management of the school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment by schools. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld, the Secretary General of my Department may direct a school to enrol a pupil.