asked the Minister for Education if he considers it permissible, in view of paragraph 15 (c) of the Constitution and Rules of Procedure for National School Boards of Management, for a son or daughter of the principal of a national school to be a member of the board of management of the school in question.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National School Boards of Management.
9.
Paragraph 15 of the Constitution of Board and Rules of Procedure for National School Boards of Management deals specifically with the procedures to be adopted where a family relationship exists between a member of the board and a person employed in the school. Provided these procedures are complied with it is permissible for any member of the family of any teacher in the school to be a member of the board of management.
Would the Minister not accept that the provisions of paragraph 15 suggest that anybody who has a family relationship needs to withdraw from the discussion when any matter connected with the other person is under discussion? Is it not the case that virtually all matters involving a primary school involve the principal of that school and therefore any member of a management board who was related to the principal would be virtually permanently absent from the meetings of the board if that regulation were to be followed in the letter and spirit.
The words of paragraph 15 are clear enough and my answer is in accordance with it. I do not accept that all general education problems should force the withdrawal of a relation, and I do not think the Deputy accepts that either.
10.
asked the Minister for Education if he is satisfied that the appropriate procedures were followed in relation to the election of two parents to the board of management of Scoil Bhríde, Mín a Chladaigh, Contae Dún na nGall, last month, and in particular (a) that the names of all parents who were nominated appeared on the ballot paper; (b) that the instructions accompanying the ballot papers did not restrict the parents' right to vote for the candidates of their choice; and (c) if he will direct the election to be re-held if he is not satisfied with the procedures adopted.
The responsibility for making arrangements for the election of the board of management of a national school is a matter for the patron of the particular school concerned. Any complaints with regard to the procedures adopted in a particular case would be a matter to be raised with the patron of the school. The specimen system for the election of the parents and staffs representatives outlined in an Appendix to the present Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure is not mandatory. The revised procedures which are now under consideration include a mandatory system in this matter.
If people who have a complaint to make about the election in this particular school make a complaint to the patron and are not satisfied, can they then come to the Minister for Education in Dublin and ask him to look into it?
I understand that complaints were made and a second election took place in that school.
Is the Minister aware that many of the characteristics of the second election were repeats of those in the first, and, in particular, that the names of all those nominated did not appear on the ballot paper and voters were instructed to vote for one of the candidates on the ballot paper? In the light of these two circumstances would he not consider suggesting to the patron that a fresh election should be held?
A third election?
Yes.
My information is that no complaint has been received from a parent with a child attending the school with regard to the selection of the parents' representatives on the board. I went very carefully through the letter sent out by the chairman. If the Deputy would like to hear it I will read it out here. It seems quite clear that the regulations were adhered to.
We would rather not have quotations from the Minister.
This letter was dated January 1979. I can let the Deputy have a copy of it, the ballot paper and the instructions, because I have photostats of all here. It is significant that no person has made any complaint to the Department about the election.
Will the Minister give an undertaking that, in the event of parents who are dissatisfied with the second election failing to get satisfaction from the patron their complaints will be entertained and studied in his Department and appropriate action taken.
Any complaints which seem to have substance and which are received in the Department will be considered.
In the light of the rules and regulations, would the Minister not agree that it is odd for the patron or the chairman of a board of management of a primary school to say in regard to nominations for election as parents' representatives that those parents who have received most nominations will have their names on the ballot paper and those parents who received fewer nominations need not necessarily expect to have their names included?
Seard atá agam anseo ná:
Scríobh isteach sa spás thíos ainmneacha na ndaoine sin. Bí cinnte agus ainmnigh máthair amháin ar a laighead. Nuair a bhéas na hainmneacha sin scríofa isteach agat cuir an Páipéar Ainmniúcháin isteach sa chlúdach lítre atá istigh leis seo agus cuir sa phosta é chomh luath is thig leat. Caithfidh na páipreacha ainmniucháin uilig a bheith istigh agamsa roimh an Chéadaoin an 10ú lá d'Eanáir ar a mhoille. Ní ghlacfar le páipéar ar bith a thiocfas isteach i ndiaidh an dáta sin. Cuirfear ar an Pháipéar Vótála na ceithre/cúig ainmneacha is mó a mbeidh iarraidh agaibh orthu agus ansin thig libh bhur vóta a thabhairt do bhur rogha beirt acu sin. Guím Bliain Úr mhaith daoibh féin agus do bhur gcuid páistí. Beannacht oraibh!
Nach aisteach an sceal é? "Na hainmneacha is mó"?
Tá sé sin de réir an daonfhlathais. Táimíd go léir anseo mar go bhfuaireamer na vótaí is mó san iomaíocht.
Ach bhí ár nainmneacha go léir ar an bpáipéar ballóid.
Bhi siad súid——
Are we supposed to have an interpreting service here?
Question No. 11.
Ní raibh ach ceithre nó cúig ainmneacha ar an bpáipéar balloid sa chás seo.
Are we supposed to have an interpreting service here?
Order, please.