The board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of primary schools. My Department investigates specific complaints which involve an alleged breach of the Rules for National Schools only after every effort has been made to resolve the matter at local level.
In the case referred to by the Deputy, the complaint received by my Department alleged mistreatment of the complainant's daughter by a teacher. Upon concluding its investigation, my Department made the results of the investigation known to the board of management of the school. A letter issued to the complainant indicating that the Department's investigation had been concluded and that the board of management had been informed of the Department's findings.
I should add that discussions are ongoing with the education partners at present with a view to reviewing the procedure for dealing with complaints. The main focus of these discussions is to agree a procedure for the resolution of complaints at local school level, and to ensure that all parties to a complaint are kept fully informed of the manner in which the complaint is being dealt with.