Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1125. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding engagement and progress between State agencies and a school (details supplied); the name of each agency; the number of meetings that each agency has had with the school since 1 January 2017; the dates of these meetings on the continued high level of suspensions and expulsions from the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46766/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Educational Welfare Service of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has advised that Tusla Educational Welfare Services (EWS) Regional Manager (RM), Senior Educational Welfare Officer (SEWO) and the Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) assigned to the school met with St Joseph's Principal, Deputy Principal (DP) and Senior management team on 25th April, 2017 to discuss the level of suspensions/expulsions in the school. Prior to this meeting, the SEWO spoke to the National Co-ordinator of the National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS), to discuss potential supports for schools that are experiencing high levels of suspensions/expulsions.

As a follow-up to the meeting, further engagement took place between the relevant parties in relation to the issues that were raised at this meeting.

Tusla EWS held a 'Restorative Practices in Schools' information session on 30/05/17 which was attended by the Principal, 2 Deputy Principals and the Guidance Counsellor.

The Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) assigned to the school has also had a number of meetings with the school in relation to individual cases of expulsion and suspension.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1126. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if progress has been made by State agencies in addressing the exceptionally high ongoing level of forced absence punishments at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46767/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The information requested by the Deputy is outlined below.

The following are the number of expelled and suspended students from 2014-2017:

- 2014/2015 - 63840C had 653 enrolled, 98 were suspended (15%) and 4 expelled (0.6%)

- 2015/2016 - 63840C had 637 enrolled, 75 were suspended (11.8%) and 5 expelled (0.7%)

- 2016/2017 - 63840C had 727 enrolled, 66 were suspended (9.1%) and 3 expelled (0.4%)

There is a downward trend year on year from data above in the number of forced absence punishments in the school referred to.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1127. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on suspensions as a form of student punishment, specifically on the level of suspensions at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46768/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla Educational Welfare Service (EWS) has advised my Department that suspension should be a proportionate response to the behaviour that is causing concern. The decision to suspend a student should, in the view of Tusla EWS, require serious grounds such as:

- the student's behaviour has had a seriously detrimental effect on the education of other students,

- the student's continued presence in the school at this time constitutes a threat to safety,

- the student is responsible for serious damage to property.

A single incident of serious misconduct may be grounds for suspension.

Where the purpose of a proposed suspension is clearly identified, and that purpose cannot be achieved in any other way, suspension can, in the view of Tusla EWS, have value.

Suspensions can give the student time to reflect on the link between their action and its consequences and give staff time to plan ways of helping the student to change unacceptable behaviour.

School management should consider the risk of any unwanted outcomes from suspension.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1128. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of expulsions at a school (details supplied) for the academic years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 in order that the interests of transparency can be met and a more full understanding of the pattern of forced absence punishments at the school over a three-year period can be known; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46769/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The information requested by the Deputy is outlined below.

Tusla has advised there was a 0.6% rate of expulsions in 2014/2015, enrolment 653 (4 students); 0.7% rate of expulsions in 2015/2016, enrolment 637 (5 students); 0.3% rate of expulsions in 2016/2017, enrolment 727 (3 students).

There is a downward trend in the number of suspensions and expulsions from the school referred to.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1129. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a school (details supplied) has recorded the highest percentage of suspensions and expulsions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46770/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Educational Welfare Service of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has advised my Department that the school referred to has not recorded the highest number of suspensions and expulsions.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1130. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether it is necessary to intervene in the continued exceptionally high level of suspensions and expulsions at a school (details supplied); the shape these interventions will take; the timeframe within which she will report regarding progress on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46771/17]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1131. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the powers she has to address the exceptionally high level of suspensions and expulsions at a school (details supplied); her plans to invoke these powers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46772/17]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1132. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the ongoing monitoring and supervision of school management at a school (details supplied) being undertaken by her Department with regard to the continued and ongoing exceptionally high level of suspensions and expulsions at the school; the point at which she will take action to intervene and address the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46773/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1130 to 1132, inclusive, together.

The Educational Welfare Service of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has advised my Department that there has been a downward trend year on year in the number of suspensions and expulsions in the school referred to.

Tusla EWS does not have role in the internal management of a school. Each school's Board of Management is responsible for the management of the school and the Code of Behaviour is the policy in the school that deals with suspensions and expulsions. Each school must adhere to their own Code of Behaviour in relation to suspensions and expulsions.

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.

At the time when parents are being formally notified of such a suspension, they and the student should be told about their right to appeal to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science under section 29 of the Education Act 1998, and should be given information about how to appeal.

A parent, or a student aged over eighteen years, may appeal a decision to expel to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science (Education Act 1998 section 29).