Vol. 398 No. 2
13 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education whether she intends to review the composition of primary school management boards which came into being in 1981, in order that parents and teachers have equality of representation with the bishops' nominees.
The management structure of national schools is one of the issues being considered by the Primary Education Review Body on which all relevant interests are represented.
I am glad that management structures are being reviewed. When will this review be submitted to the Minister? Will she try to ensure that there is more democracy in regard to school management boards so that the combination of parents and teachers will at least be equal to the number provided by the patron, which at present is double the amount of parents' representatives?
The boards of management are due to be reviewed next October. I agree with the Deputy that there is a need for very full participation by everybody on those boards. I was looking at the composition and the remit of the boards of management of primary schools recently and it struck me very forcefully that if the terms of the remit were interpreted as they were meant to be, there would be very full democracy. At the time of the review I intend to make my feelings public in regard to this matter.
Will the Minister agree that there is a need for in-service training to be provided for boards of management and that although it has been repeatedly raised in this House nothing seems to have happened? Will she also indicate when she expects the review body to present their report?
Is the Deputy referring to the Murphy report?
Yes.
I am not sure. I know when the other one is coming out because the publication date has been conveyed to me. However, it is anticipated that the Murphy report will be published quite soon. In-service training for boards of management is very important and, to that end, I gave a developmental fund to the national parents' councils, primary and post-primary, in 1989 because they wished to conduct a series for the parental members of boards of management. I understand they have plans in that regard.
