Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Ruairí Quinn.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of
the individual school. My Department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area
can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may
result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may
not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection
process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be
applied fairly in respect of all applicants.
Under section 15(2)(d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose
its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and
the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents choice are respected.
Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the
Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of a vocational education committee
(VEC) school to the VEC in the first instance, where a board of management of a school, or
a person acting on behalf of the board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student
or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year. My Department has no authority
to compel a school to admit a pupil, except in the case of an appeal under section 29 of the
Education Act 1998 being upheld.
The parents/guardians of the pupil in question may wish to contact my Department at the
section 29 appeals administration unit, Friar’s Mill Road, Mullingar, County Westmeath, phone
044-9337008, if they wish to take an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist
parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB
may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil’s
area. The contact details for the NEWB in the area is National Educational Welfare Board,
Block 3 Floor 1, Grove Court, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, phone number 01-8103260.
State Examinations
207. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a
breakdown of the costs involved in having second level leaving certificate mock examinations
marked externally; his views on parents having to pay for the marking of mock exams; and
should he ensure mock exams are assessed internally as a cost saving measure. [7715/12]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn): Mock examinations are not part of
the State examinations system. The decision to organise and/or charge for mock examinations is
made at school level, and mock examinations are not a requirement of my Department. Schools
are provided with capitation and school services grants to meet their running costs. Postprimary
schools receive school services grant of €201 per pupil plus a capitation grant of €317
per pupil. DEIS schools also receive additional funds for targeted interventions to improve
educational outcomes for students at risk. Schools are free to prioritise these resources in
accordance with the overall needs of the school.
Assessment is part of the core work of every teacher. While many schools wish to provide
students with the experience of assessment under examination conditions, I see no educational
advantage in such arrangements being externally marked. Ideally, if there are to be mock
exams, they should be marked by the class teacher. Having the class teacher involved in assessment
and giving clear feedback to students on strengths and weaknesses is a vital part of
assessment for learning. While schools in the free education scheme may seek voluntary contributions
from parents, they may not charge fees for teaching and learning activities scheduled
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