Brian O'Shea
Question:37 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the draft agreement on a new complaints system for primary schools. [7139/00]
Written Answers. - Complaints Procedures.
A working group under the aegis of my Department, and comprising representatives from the partners in education at primary level, has been engaged in the process of reviewing the complaints procedure that applies at primary level.
The procedure that applies with regard to processing complaints is an agreement that was entered into by the primary management bodies and the INTO. This procedure has been in operation for a number of years and it was considered opportune by my Department and the partners in education that it should be reviewed.
The review process is progressing well and a number of drafts of a new procedure have been sent to the partners for their comments in the past few months. There are still a number of points which have to be agreed by all the partners and it is hoped to progress these matters over the coming weeks. It is my intention, and that of the partners, that the new procedure would be available to all schools by the beginning of the next school year in September 2000.