A troubled boy has been prevented from returning to mainstream education because a new government agency, the National Education and Welfare Board, has no staff.
The 14-year-old is facing charges of theft of a moped, larceny and burglary, Dublin Children's Court heard. He had been put out of school, but had since became determined to complete his education.
His mother previously told the court that her son's behaviour had been adversely affected by the area in which they lived and the company he kept. To counteract this, she had planned to move away, and she had tried to enrol her son in a new school. The boy had wanted to get an education which would also divert him from breaking the law.
Judge Geoffrey Browne was told that the boy, who is "anxious to return to mainstream education", was initially accepted by its vice-principal. However, he was later refused admission when the principal learned that the teenager had previous convictions.
His solicitor, Ms Sarah Molloy, said that the case had already been adjourned after a judge had ordered a report by the National Education and Welfare Board to help resolve the problem.
But this was impossible because, in fact, no education and welfare officers were employed by the board yet. She had written to the board's CEO regarding the case, but had received no reply.
Ms Molloy said that since the repeal of the 1926 School Attendance Act, the National Education and Welfare Board had taken over work previously done by school attendance officers.
School attendance officers had been expected to be appointed as education and welfare officers, but this has not happened due to an industrial dispute.
The dispute had been before the Labour Relations Commission, but was not resolved.
Describing the situation as "crazy", Judge Browne adjourned the case until a date in January to see what progress could be made.