Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) who has not been able to secure a place in a second level school for the past two years. [50484/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school.

Where a parent seeks to enrol their child in a school and that school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Only where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld, may the Secretary General of my Department direct a school to enrol a pupil.

Children may be eligible for home tuition where a determination is awaited in respect of an expulsion or refusal to enrol is taken under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998.

An application for home tuition for the child referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department in recent days. The Education Welfare Service has advised my Department that the local Education Welfare Officer (EWO) is providing assistance to the family.

The NCSE is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO), for allocating resources to schools to support students with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within the Department's criteria in allocating such support.

The parents of the child referred to by the Deputy are also encouraged to continue to liaise with their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) for advice on supports and further assistance. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.