322. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide guidance for the parent of a child with specific medical needs who is having difficulty attending school due to issues with care (details supplied); the responsibility of the school in this circumstance; and the further supports can be put in place to ensure the child is allowed to attend school safely on a full time basis, as is their right. [67204/26]

This government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs. It does so through a network of special educational needs organisers (SENOs).

It is important that a sufficient number of school staff receive adequate training to meet the care needs of students, and adequate cover is in place where staff designated to provide essential care support is absent on any particular day. Resources should also be deployed so that students with the greatest level of need receive the greatest level of support in the school.

Where specific training is required, the school can liaise with Enable Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Education Support Centres, at a local level to secure guidance and training to meet the care needs of the student. The school’s SENO is also available to advise on the resources available to assist students with special educational needs including opportunities for targeted training.

It is important to note, that the Department of Education and Youth does not have a role in investigating or responding to parental complaints of this nature as it is not directly involved in the day-to-day management of schools. The Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and the department or the Inspectorate does not have the power to instruct schools to follow a particular course of direction with regard to individual complaints. The department’s role in such circumstances is to clarify how complaints against a school or a member of its staff may be progressed.

In this regard, the agreed procedures in place at school level should be used and the complaint should be directed to the school principal in the first instance and then to the Board of Management, if necessary. If the family remain dissatisfied after they have brought their concern to the attention of the school’s board of management, they may write to the school patron/trustee.

Parents may also refer a complaint to The Office of the Ombudsman for Children who may independently investigate complaints about schools recognised by the Department of Education and Youth, provided the parent has firstly and fully followed the school's complaints procedures.

Local SENOs remain available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs. I would urge the parent to engage with the local SENO for support if this has not already taken place. Contact details for SENOs are available on the NCSE website.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to achieve their full potential.