Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied). [12315/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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.

My officials have been in contact with the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) on this matter. The NEWB have confirmed that they have received notification from the school authorities of their intention to expel the pupil in question. My officials also understand from the NEWB that 20 school days have not passed since the formal notification from the school authorities.