asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the frequency with which the boards of management of national schools meet; and if he will state how often they should meet.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Boards of Management Meeting.
51.
The Constitution of Boards of Management and Rules of Procedure specify that: "The Board shall meet at such times as the conduct of business may require, not being less than once in each school term; the Chairman may at any time call a Meeting of the Board. On written request of not less than one-third of the members of the Board the Chairman shall within 21 days of receipt by him of the written request, call a Meeting of the Board..."
May I direct the attention of the Minister to the question? I asked him if he was aware of the frequency with which boards of management meet. Has he taken any steps to familiarise himself with whether the guidelines are being observed?
I am sure it would be drawn to my attention if the guidelines were not being observed. I am sure they are.
Will the Minister accept in good faith the information that some school boards have not met for approximately two years and that some chairmen of boards of management have apparently interpreted the boycott of the boards by the teachers as being a licence to dispense totally with the boards? Will not the Minister agree that his failure to check on whether the boards are meeting is a gross dereliction of duty?
I do not agree that there is any dereliction of duty on my part. If the Deputy has information about boards of management that have not met for two years I should like him to let me have that information.
If I let the Minister have that information what sanction would he propose to invoke? Will not the Minister agree that what began as a promising experiment in shared management of education has degenerated under him into a sham?
I do not accept that. In fact, I am very pleased with the contribution of boards of management in the primary school system. If the Deputy has information on the matter I mentioned it is his duty as a public representative to let me know and then I will take action.
Will the Minister agree, now that he has admitted his sins of omission in the past——
I did not admit to any sins of omission.
——to take steps in the future to ensure that the operation of the boards of management is reasonably monitored by his Department?
I am quite satisfied that the boards are operating satisfactorily as of now. If there are individual instances where they are not and of which the Deputy is aware he should let me know about it.
Will not the Minister agree that he is not showing himself up in a very good light by saying he is sure of something about which he knows nothing? Secondly, in view of what has been said here in regard to the failure of the boards to meet because of the absence of the teachers' representatives, will the Minister issue a direction to the chairmen of the boards of management indicating to them that they should meet even during the period when the teachers are not available?
I am not saying I am aware of the workings without any specific information. Every day of the week I sign many letters to boards of management who are doing their job. I have contact with them not only through my officials but on a personal level throughout the country with regard to the operation of their schools, building schemes and so on. I am not speaking from ignorance when I say that this system is working satisfactorily.
The Minister should answer the question.
Secondly, the boards of managements have circulars from my Department indicating their duties. I am satisfied that generally they are carrying out their duties. If public representatives have information to the contrary I should be very glad to get that information.
The Minister is satisfied but he knows nothing about it.
That is not true. It shows that the Deputy who has said that is completely lacking in the powers of reasoning.
The Minister has admitted he has not checked. All he knows is about those boards with whom he has been in communication but he knows nothing about the others.
A lesson in elementary logic would help the Deputy a great deal.
The last person I will get that from is the Minister.