asked the Minister for Education the way in which her Department facilitates the establishment of parents' councils; and the way in which the powers and responsibilities of parents' councils differ from those of conventional parents associations.
Written Answers. - Parents' Councils.
161.
There is only one national parents' council recognised by the Department consisting of two tiers, one primary and one post-primary.
The post-primary and the primary tiers of the national parents' council received a payment of £10,000 each in their first year, 1985, and further payments of £25,000 each in 1986. These payments were made for the purpose of helping the council to become operational. In that way my Department facilitated parents in organising themselves into a national parents' council through which the views of parents may be expressed.
The council is now represented on various educational agencies such as Primary Curriculum Review Body, Primary Education Review Body and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
My Department has no function in relation to parents' associations generally.