Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 May 2014
302. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons section 28 of the 1998 Education Act 1998, which empowers his Department to put in place a nationally agreed complaints-grievance procedure for parents has not yet been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23319/14]
View answerSection 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.
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.
