asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement concerning the representation of the various religious denominations on the management board of the Balally Community School, County Dublin; if he is aware of the wishes of members of the Protestant community in this area, in which is situated the largest Church of Ireland primary school in the country, that they should be allocated representation on this board of management; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Balally (Dublin) Community School .
11.
: The Board of Management of Balally Community School comprises three persons nominated by County Dublin Vocational Education Committee, three persons nominated by religious orders, two parent representatives and two teacher representatives.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the model deed of trust for community schools makes provision for only one church authority. Participation by Protestant representatives on the management board of Balally School, County Dublin, can however be achieved in one of two ways. If Protestant pupils attend the school, a Protestant parent could be elected by the body of parents as one of their two representatives. It is also open to the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee to nominate a Protestant person as one of its three representatives. In this connection, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Dáil Question Number 16 of 6 March 1980.
I would be very happy to see Protestant participation in the management of Balally Community School through either of these ways.
: Is the Minister taking Question No. 27 with Question No. 11?
: No.