Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2014
210. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with the scope of authority available to the children's Ombudsman and the role to investigate complaints made to the Ombudsman for Children under sections 8 and 9 of the Children Act 2002 by parents who feel the administrative action of a school board of management has negatively affected the children attending the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13998/14]
View answer211. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with the recourse available to parents of children who have been left disadvantaged by the administrative decision of a school board of management to obtain an independent impartial opinion on the management decision; the reason for the board making the particular decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13999/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together.Section 28 of the Education Act 1998 provides for grievance and appeal procedures in schools. It expresses a desirability of determining appeals and resolving grievances in the school concerned. Section 29 of the Act sets out a limited set of circumstances a parent can appeal administrative decisions of a school. These are confined to expulsions, suspensions or refusal to enroll. The Government has approved the drafting of the Admissions to School Bill 2014 in which the extent to which refusal to enroll will or will not be subject to a Section 29 appeal will be addressed. I am not satisfied with the current provisions of Section 28. I plan to revise it in order to provide in law for a Parent and Student Charter. I plan to consult with the Ombudsman for Children's Office on this matter. Changing how schools engage with, listen and respond to parent concerns will be an important part of a Charter. Providing parents with the rationale for any decision is important. If schools help parents to understand the basis for a decision parents are more likely to accept the fairness of decisions.
