THE Department of Education is to provide one-to-one tuition in a local library for a disruptive 13-year-old boy from Ballymun who has not been in school since last September.
This is believed to be the first time the De has offered such intensive tuition in response to the growing problem of children and teenagers who cannot find or keep a place, in school. In the past year, the High Court has heard almost 20 cases of teenagers who, it is claimed, are being denied their constitutional right to an education.
Up to 1,000 children leave the education system each year before reaching second level, even though the legal leaving age is 15.
Lawyers for the Department told the Children's Court yesterday that from Monday it would provide the boy with tuition for 10 hours a week as directed by the High Court last February. The High Court also instructed the Eastern Health Board to place the boy in its "out of school" project at Geraldstown House in Ballymun.
The Department had, previously offered to provide the tuition while the boy was at Geraldstown House, rather than in addition to this.
However, this was refused by the boy's counsel, Mr John Hanlon, who said at home tuition should be provided in the family home. The Department argued that, because the boy was part of a large family, it would be difficult to provide an education with the necessary privacy.
Judge John Paul McDonnell said yesterday that if the boy did not take up the Department's offer, a place would be made available for him in St Laurences industrial school in Finglas. The judge said he would deal with criminal charges outstanding against the boy at a later date.
In the absence of the boy's mother in court, Mr Hanlon said he would encourage the mother to persuade her son to attend the tuition in Ballymun library, and to attend Geraldstown House nearby for 20 hours a week.
Judge McDonnell set aside a witness summons on Mr Liam Kilroy, a principal officer with the Department, to provide evidence when the case is reviewed next month. Mr John O'Donnell barrister, for the Department, said that another official, Mr Roger Killeen, was a ware of the facts of the case and was available to give evidence.
Mr O'Donnell said Mr Killeen had worked "tirelessly" to set up the tuition arrangement for the boy. One-to-one tuition was a privilege that "not a lot of people enjoy," he told the court.
Mr O'Donnell said he could not accept the judge's view. The Department had acted in a bona-fide manner.
Mr Hanlon said the psychiatrist who examined the boy believed he was mildly mentally handicapped and recommended he attend one of three schools for the emotionally disturbed. However, these were full.
