Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Department of Education and Skills

School Placement

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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461. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a place at a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be approved for a person, as he is out of school due to the numbers applying for this school; and her plans for the future to accommodate the growing number of students who find it difficult to get places in Kilkenny city. [35702/14]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. The contact details for the EWS is Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency, Block 3 South Dublin County Council, Tallaght, Dublin 24, phone number 01-4635513.

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 an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB 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. Application forms for taking a section 29 appeal are available on my Departments website at the following link , or by contacting Section 29 Administration Unit, Friars Mill Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, phone 0761 108584.

My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where further school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards. This process includes Kilkenny city. When this exercise has been completed, I will announce details of where additional school accommodation, including new schools, might be required.

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