Austin Deasy
Question:208 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education the powers, if any, her Department has in relation to the board of management of schools; and if so, her Department's involvement in this regard. [2757/94]
Vol. 446 No. 6
208 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education the powers, if any, her Department has in relation to the board of management of schools; and if so, her Department's involvement in this regard. [2757/94]
Primary schools operate under the Rules for National Schools, which are made by the Minister for Education with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance. The manager of a school is the person, or in the case of a board the body of persons, nominated by the patron and recognised as manager by the Minister for Education. A manager or board of management duly recognised is charged with the direct governance of the school. In the discharge of this governance, the board must in some specific instances, e.g. appointment of teachers, obtain the approval of the patron and the Minister. In the general conduct of its affairs, the board is, of course, obliged to comply with the Rules for National Schools.
Among the sanctions available to me as Minister is the withdrawal of recognition from a board if it fails to observe the rules or if it should appear that the educational interests of the district require it. The rules provide that such recognition will not be withdrawn without consultation with the patron, board and other interested parties.
The rules also give the Minister the power to withdraw recognition from a school in certain circumstances. This provision, which in effect means the termination of grant aid, also affords the Minister control over any board whose governance is not in compliance with the rules.
Voluntary secondary schools are privately owned and managed institutions and the question of forming a board of management in any school is a matter for the management authority of that school; my Department has no function in the matter.