Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2015
131. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills is she will confirm the details of the higher authority that governs School Boards of Management to ensure proper procedures and directives are adhered to. [15868/15]
View answerIn accordance with the Education Act 1998, schools are managed by Boards of Management on behalf of the relevant school patrons. Under the provisions of the Act, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and it is the Board of Management that employs the teachers and other staff at the school.
Under section 16 of the 1998 Act where the patron is satisfied that the functions of the Board are not being effectively discharged, the patron may, subject to the consent of the Minister, dissolve the Board. Section 17 of the Act also provides that where the Minister is satisfied that the functions of the Board are not being effectively discharged or where the Board wilfully neglects to comply with any order, direction or regulation of the Minister given or made under the Act, the Minister may require the patron to dissolve the Board. In cases where the Board is dissolved, the patron may appoint a manager or managers to perform the functions of the Board. 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 enrol. I have previously indicated that 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. Changing how schools engage with, listen and respond to parent concerns will be an important part of a Charter.
With this in mind, a set of principles will be required to act as a charter to strengthen the relationship between parents, students and schools, and the position of parents and students generally within the school system.
