Schools Records.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 April 2010

Tuesday, 20 April 2010

Questions (890)

Brian Hayes

Question:

938 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science when a school (details supplied) in County Cork will obtain the original roll books that were removed from the school in June 2009 on request from the district inspector of her Department; if these roll books will now be sent back to the school in question; when this is likely to happen in view of the fact that only temporary roll books have been in place since June 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15261/10]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Mary Coughlan)

The roll books of a school constitute the school's official record of pupil enrolment, attendances and absences and must at all times be properly and accurately maintained. The roll books provide the basis of important official returns to my Department upon which staffing and funding provisions are determined. Accordingly, it is open to my Department to conduct an inspection of the roll books of any school.

In the case of the school in question, a full set of all replacement books required by the school were supplied when its roll books were removed for inspection by my Department. The roll books will be returned to the school when my Department has fully completed its consideration of same. In the interim period, the replacement books supplied to the school are the school's official roll books and should be maintained by the school as such.