Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the discipline procedures available to schools to ensure a satisfactory learning environment for all students; his views on whether teachers currently receive sufficient support in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18853/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Education Welfare Act 2000 requires all schools to have in place a Code of Behaviour. The Act requires that a school Code of Behaviour shall specify:- (a)the standards of behaviour that shall be observed by each student attending the school; (b)the measures that may be taken when a student fails or refuses to observe those standards; (c)the procedures to be followed before a student may be suspended or expelled from the school concerned; (d)the grounds for removing a suspension imposed in relation to a student; and (e)the procedures to be followed relating to notification of a child's absence from school.

The Act also requires that the school code of behaviour is prepared in accordance with Guidelines issued by the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB). The Guidelines set out a framework of good practice to assist primary and post-primary schools in developing their code of behaviour or in strengthening an existing code and are available on the website of the NEWB: www.newb.ie.