Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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839. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will be provided with an extra year of school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19604/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Special schools funded by my Department are classified as primary national schools and are intended, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 64(1) of the Rules for National Schools, to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from the age of 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. 

Special schools may however seek approval from my Department for an exemption from Rule 64(1) in respect of students over the age of 18 who are pursuing courses leading to accreditation on the National Qualifications Framework (e.g. Junior Certificate/LCA/FETAC 3).

A request for an exemption from Rule 64(1) can only be made by a school where:

1. The student is pursuing a course leading to accreditation on the National Qualifications Framework (e.g. Junior Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied/FETAC 3) 

2. The student requires one additional year in order to complete their course

3. Retaining the student in the school for another school year will not prevent a younger pupil being enrolled there

4. Plans are in place to transition the student to a post-school setting at the end of the 2022/2023 school year

Special schools are invited each year to make applications for exemptions from Rule 64(1) in respect of pupils who meet the above criteria. 

Where the criteria are met, my Department will approve the exemptions.