Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 7

Written Answers. - Comprehensive Schools.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

392 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason teacher and parent representatives are not allowed access to the annual accounts furnished to his Department by the boards of management of comprehensive schools; if his attention has been drawn to the fact there are no teacher or parent representatives on these boards and vital information is not available to people at a local level; and if he will instruct these boards to make their annual accounts available to parent and teacher representatives. [6941/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The board of management of a comprehensive school is a collegiate body responsible for the direction and control of the school. While it would not be normal practice for a board to discuss its affairs with non-board members, it is nevertheless open to a board to establish appropriate channels of communication in order to encourage participation in the school commmunity by groups such as parents and teachers.

I am aware that there are no parent or teacher representatives on any of the comprehensive school boards of management. It is my intention to review the structure of the boards of management of these schools. Proposals with regard to a review process are being prepared by my Department. I expect that those proposals will be available to me shortly.