Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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305. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when special educational needs organisers, SENOs, will be allowed to instruct schools to set up special needs classes in cases in which a school refuses same; if this new authority will be exercised before the end of the 2017-18 academic year to ensure students have an appropriate place for September 2018; the way in which limits to SENOs' new authority will be legislated for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54325/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 was published on 6 July 2016. The Bill passed Committee Stage on 28 June 2017 and will shortly proceed to Report Stage.

In relation to the issues raised by the Deputy, during the Committee Stage debate of the Admissions Bill, I outlined my intention to bring forward proposals at Report Stage to address this issue. 

I can confirm that work is ongoing in this regard and my Department officials are currently engaging with the Office of the Attorney General on the development of legislative proposals on this matter which they hope to bring forward to Government for approval shortly.