Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason and the length of time a secondary school must keep a place open for a student who does not return to school at the start of an academic year or term without notifying the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36486/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. It is therefore a matter for each individual Board of Management to determine how it provides in its enrolment policy for the circumstances outlined by the Deputy.

Schools must also ensure that they fulfil their obligations under the Education Welfare Act 2000. The Act requires that the principal of a recognised school maintains a register in respect of all students attending that school and it is also mandatory under the Act to report on attendance. Under the Act, recognised schools are required to establish and maintain a School Register. The School Register must include the names of all children who have a place in the school and the date of first attendance. Under Section 20 of the Act, a student's name can only be removed from a School Register, where: A school has received confirmation that the student is registered in another school or A school has received confirmation that a student has been registered with the NEWB as in receipt of an education in a place other than a recognised school.

Where students are retained on the register solely for the purposes of meeting the requirement of Section 20 of the Education Welfare Act, schools are not permitted to include such pupils in their enrolment numbers for the purposes of teacher allocation or capitation funding.