Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the policy in place regarding circumstances in which a school might consider it necessary to expel a student in the latter part of the Leaving Certificate year; if he will seek to have the student placed in an alternative school or might home tuition be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4139/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Under Section 15 of the Education Act, 1998, each school Board of Management shall publish, in such manner as the Board - with the agreement of the patron - considers appropriate, the policy of the school concerning admission to and participation in the school, including the policy of the school in relation to the expulsion and suspension of students. Under Section 24 of the Educational Welfare Act 2000, where the board of management of a school is of the opinion that a student should be expelled from a school, it shall - before expelling the student - notify the education welfare officer to whom functions under this Act have been assigned. On receipt of the notification concerned, the education welfare officer shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure that provision is made for the continued education of the student.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which may be able to 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 are NEWB 16-22 Green Street Dublin 7 01-8738700. Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of this 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. Educational provision by means of Home Tuition can only be considered as a temporary educational arrangement, and all efforts must continue to find a school place. The roles of the NEWB and the roles of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are also relevant in this context.