Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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509. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the options available to the parents of a child (details supplied) for the child to be able to attend school. [38567/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Each child has a right to education to enable them to live a full life as a child and to realise his or her potential as a unique individual. All pupils who are enrolled in a school should attend school for the full day, unless exempted from doing so for exceptional circumstances, such as medical reasons.

Where schools apply a shorter school day in relation to a child, such arrangements should only be put in place in exceptional circumstances in order to assist a pupil to return to a school, where a pupil has been experiencing an absence due to a medical or behavioural related condition. Reduced timetables should not be used as a behavioural management technique, or as a de facto suspension or expulsion. Any such arrangement should be a transitionary arrangement, which is designed to assist the reintegration of a pupil to a school environment.

In making any such arrangements, school authorities should be mindful of the best interests of the child and of the child's right to a full day in school. Schools should seek the advice of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) before implementing such arrangements.

In relation to the particular case raised by the Deputy, I understand that the Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) are currently engaged with the Parents, the school and the relevant support services and agencies with a view to ensuring that the child can return to school on a full time basis.