April 28 2010

Parliamentary Questions

• Equality Tribunal decision re age finishing special schools

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

• Equality Tribunal decision re age finishing special schools

Deputy Michael Noonan (FG): asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 435 of 30 March 2010, when she will formally write to special schools confirming that her Department is undertaking a review of the decision of the Equality Tribunal that children who are pursuing courses leading to accreditation such as junior certificate and leaving certificate applied should be afforded the same duration of time to complete these courses as their counterparts in mainstream education; when the review will be completed; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the decision of the tribunal applies to all students, present and future and is not to be implemented on a case-by-case basis;

Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Mary Coughlan): I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently in communication with special schools whose students are pursuing courses leading to accreditation, such as Junior Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied. These students will be allowed additional time in special schools to complete these courses. In addition, my Department is currently reviewing its policy concerning school leaving age generally with a view to developing a consistent approach for all students whether they are attending a mainstream post primary school or special school. It would be speculative to indicate a timeframe for completion of this review considering the in-depth process involved.

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