Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a matter in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 regarding entry to a school. [18674/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.

Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act, 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents choice are respected.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of a Vocational Education Committee (VEC) school to the VEC in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school. My Department has no authority to compel a school to admit a pupil, except in the case of an appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 being upheld.

A Section 29 appeal recently took place in respect of a refusal to enrol this child to the school in question. This appeal was not upheld. Following the receipt of the Appeal Committee's determination, the Secretary General wrote to both parties advising them of the outcome of the appeal.

This letter was copied to the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB). The NEWB is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB has indicated that it will treat children for whom an appeal under Section 29 has been unsuccessful as priority cases in offering such assistance. The contact details for the NEWB in the area in question is NEWB, Block 3, Floor 1, Grove Court, Blanchardstown Dublin 15, Tel: 01 8103261.