Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1085. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of post primary students that were placed on a reduced timetable in the 2016/2017 school year; the reason and duration regarding being placed on reduced timetables; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46753/17]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1086. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has issued guidelines to post primary schools regarding the rationale for placing young persons on reduced timetables; if consent for such a decision is required by the young persons, parents guardians, teachers, principal and or board of management; the options available to young persons and their families to appeal such decisions; the minimum and maximum length of time respectively a person can be placed on a reduced timetable; the decision making mechanisms by which a young person can return to a full timetable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46765/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1085 and 1086 together.

The Educational Welfare Service of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has advised my Department that the Agency does not hold data on the number of post-primary students that are placed on reduced timetables.

Tusla has not issued guidelines to schools on the rationale of placing students on reduced timetables. In certain cases where the number of hours missed in school due to a reduced timetable equates to 20 cumulative days in the current school year, it may be viewed as a de facto suspension.

Where the total number of days for which the student has been suspended in the current school year reaches twenty days, the parents, or a student aged over eighteen years, may appeal the suspension under section 29 of the Education Act 1998, as amended by the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007.