Parents and Learners Unit

Child Protection

Child protection measures in schools

• Providing guidance to schools in relation to child protection and the implementation of the Child Protection Procedures for Schools
• Ensuring that all alleged child protection concerns brought to the attention of staff in the Department are transmitted to the appropriate authorities as quickly as possible
• Ensuring that the Minister receives the appropriate assurances in relation to compliance of the Education Sector with child protection legislative requirements

Appeals under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998

• Appeal against permanent Exclusion, Suspension or Refusal to Enrol

Where a Board of Management of a school makes the decision to refuse a school place to a child or suspends a child for more than 20 days or expels a child the parent can appeal that decision to an independent appeals committee. Our Section 29 team in Mullingar process that appeal and provide administrative support to the appeals committee.

Home Tuition Schemes

Home Tuition

• Home Tuition in respect of Maternity Related Absences
• Home Tuition for children without a school place
• Home Tuition for children in care without a school place

Parental Complaints

Complaints about schools

• Providing advice to parents and students on the operation of the schools’ complaint procedures.

Anti-bullying work

• Leading work on the review of the Action Plan on Bullying and the review of the Anti-bullying procedures for Schools.

The Charter Bill

• Progressing the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019 through the legislative process and consulting with stakeholders in the development of Charter guidelines for schools