Vol. 488 No. 3
112 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has agreed the document known as a deed of variation, which refers to management and patronage of primary schools, with denominational or other interests; the individual involved in the drafting of this document; and where the document may be acquired by the taxpayers who fund the education system. [6060/98]
The deeds of variation provide for the establishment of representative boards of management in primary schools. They arose out of an agreement reached between the representatives of patrons of schools, parents, management bodies and teacher unions on the governance of primary schools. I have accepted that agreement. As part of the agreement the partners provided the broad outlines of documents, draft deeds of variation, which would be necessary to give legal effect to their agreement and which would form part of the legal instruments relating to the establishment and operation of schools. These documents were then referred by my Department to the Attorney General's Office for consideration of legal and constitutional issues and an officer of the Parliamentary Draftsman's Office drafted the documents in proper legal format.
Copies of the documents are available from my Department without charge.
