Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 739: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if sufficient accommodation exists or is expected to be provided to meet enrolments of school entrants in view of the needs of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if his Department will provide permanent or temporary accommodation to fulfil these needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23475/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 740: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if sufficient accommodation exists or is expected to be provided to meet enrolments of school entrants in view of the needs of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if his Department will provide permanent or temporary accommodation to fulfil these needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23476/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 741: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if sufficient accommodation exists or is expected to be provided to meet enrolments of school entrants in view of the needs of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if his Department will provide permanent or temporary accommodation to fulfil these needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23477/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 739 to 741, inclusive, together.

Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools that are not in a position to admit all pupils seeking entry to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act. In this regard a board of management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion. In formulating an admissions policy a school must, however, ensure it is lawful. In particular, it must act in accordance with section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000.

Where a Board of Management refuses to enrol a student in a school, the parent of the student or, where the student has reached 18 years of age, the student himself or herself, following the conclusion of any appeal procedures at school level, has a statutory entitlement under section 29 of the Education Act to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science. A committee is established to hear the appeal with hearings conducted with a minimum of formality. In most cases appeals must be dealt with within 30 days. Where appropriate, the Secretary General may give whatever directions to the Board of Management that are considered necessary to remedy the matter complained of.

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.