Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 71: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason pupils are being refused entry to their local secondary schools even though they are only a few hundred metres away and have attended the local national school; if he will end this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32135/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 Educational 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, expels a student or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year. 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. 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. The Deputy will be aware that I recently launched a discussion paper on school enrolment. The document,"Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment" contained suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent and I invited education partners and interested parties to submit their views to my Department by the 28th of October last. My officials are co-ordinating the submissions to the discussion paper in question. 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 may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. The contact details for the NEWB is National Educational Welfare Board, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7, phone number 01-8738600.