Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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1057. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will support a person (details supplied) with their recent application for an exemption from rule 64 (1) for the 2022-23 school year, given their circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30818/22]

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 additional 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.

My Department received an application from the school for the student referred to by the Deputy, for an exemption from Rule 64(1) for the 2022/2023 school year. As the student in question did not meet the criteria for retention outlined above, it was not possible to approve the school’s application. The school has been notified of this decision. Any request for a review of this decision can be submitted to my Department by the school authorities.