Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014
256. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the budgets available to school boards of management to spend on legal fees where they are in dispute with a parent about a school issue; if his Department or the State pays the legal costs of the board of management in such disputes and in cases where costs are awarded against the board of management in court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25962/14]
View answer257. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans regarding making changes to the operations and reporting structures of boards of management of schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25964/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 257 together.
The agreed procedures for the appointment of boards of management of primary schools and the rules under which these Boards operate are set out in my Department's publication "Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedures 2011". The term of office of the current Boards of the circa 3300 primary schools will expire on 30 November 2015 with new Boards being appointed from 01 December 2015. It is intended that this publication will be reviewed and updated as appropriate by my Department in advance of that date.
My Department provides capitation funding to primary schools to cover their day to day running costs, including any costs associated with insurance. It is a matter for each Board to raise with its insurers whether any legal costs it has incurred are comprehended by the school's insurance policy.
