Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
324. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the obligations on patron bodies of national schools to have in place formal complaints procedures for parents to question boards of management acting under their patronage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19250/24]
View answer342. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education the oversight mechanisms that are in place by which parents can hold board of managements to account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19325/24]
View answer343. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education to clarify the obligation of patron bodies of national schools to have in place formal complaints procedures for parents to formally complain about the performance of boards of management acting under their patronage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19326/24]
View answer367. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the relevant legislation or guidelines that allow parents to challenge or hold the board of management in a school to account;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19487/24]
View answer368. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if patron bodies of national schools have an obligation to allow formal complaints about the performance of boards of management acting under their patronage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19488/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 324, 342, 343, 367 and 368 together.
In accordance with the Education Act 1998, schools are managed by boards of management on behalf of the relevant school patrons. Under the provisions of the Act, the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school.
My Department provides funding and policy direction for schools, it does not have the power to instruct schools to follow a particular course of direction with regard to individual complaint cases or to investigate individual complaints except where the complaint involves a refused enrolment, expulsion or suspension, in accordance with section 29 of the Education Act, 1998. In dealing with parental complaints, my Department’s role is to clarify for parents how their grievances and complaints regarding schools can be progressed.
A school may have a formal complaints process in which case this should be followed in pursuing any complaint. Where you are of the view that a school's board of management has failed to investigate or adequately investigate your complaint, it is open to you to raise the matter directly with the Chairperson of the Board of Management by correspondence marked “Private and Confidential”.
You also have the option of raising your complaint with the Ombudsman for Children. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children may also independently investigate complaints relating to the administrative actions of a school recognised by the Department of Education provided the parent has fully followed the school's complaints procedures. The key criterion for any intervention by the Ombudsman for Children is that the administrative actions of a school has, or may have, adversely affected the child - Email: ococomplaint@oco.ie or Freephone: 1800 20 20 40
The Charter Bill, which is awaiting a date for Committee Stage in the Dáil, provides for all schools to have a Charter and for the Minister to issue guidelines, following consultation, in accordance with which every school’s Charter shall be prepared, published and implemented. The Bill sets out the key matters that the Minister must have regard to when preparing the charter guidelines.
The overall aim of the Bill is to improve the level of engagement between the school community by inviting feedback, comment and observation from the school community and by further developing a listening culture in schools. One of the key concepts of the Bill is the need for a school to consult with students and their parents on individual school plans, policies and activities. This approach will help ensure that the various views of students and parents will be heard and responded to by schools on issues and policies.
The charter guidelines, which will be developed in consultation with education stakeholders, will set out the details of national grievance procedures and these will focus on dealing with complaints efficiently, effectively and, as far as possible, informally. These measures aim to improve the fairness and transparency of the school grievance process. The overall approach in the Bill is to move away from reacting to problems in schools after they arise, to an early intervention approach which aims to improve the day-to-day experience students and their parents can expect from schools.
Further information is available on the gov.ie website: www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/complaints-about-schools/.
