Vol. 554 No. 5
567 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress his Department has made in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 regarding an incident alleged to have taken place in the school in March 2000 to which his Department's attention has been drawn by this person's parents. [16005/02]
My Department investigates specific complaints which involve an alleged breach of the rules for national schools but 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 alleges difficulties encountered by the parents with a teacher at the school. When the matter was originally brought to my Department's attention, my officials corresponded with both the parents and the board of management, setting out the responsibilities of the board and outlining the Department's complaints procedure.
My officials subsequently received permission from the parents of the child to pursue the matter on their behalf with the board of management of the school.
In an effort to bring this matter to a conclusion, the local inspector has been requested to interview the various parties involved, including the parents, and to submit a report on the matter.
It is expected that the investigation will be concluded on receipt of the inspector's report and the parents will be informed of the outcome at that stage. I can assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to conclude this matter as speedily as possible.
