Jim Daly
Question:37. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered the proposal to establish an ombudsman for education office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21892/15]
View answerWednesday, 10 June 2015
Questions (37)
Written answers
I have no plans to appoint an Ombudsman for Education.
The Ombudsman for Children has responsibility for the investigation of complaints relating to children, whether in relation to the administrative actions of my Department, or of schools or other institutions in the education sector. The Office of the Ombudsman has a related responsibility for the investigation of complaints in respect of adults in the education sector.
The Ombudsman (Amendment Act) 2012 was signed into law on 31st October 2012. Both the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children had their remit extended to cover approximately 180 additional entities. These entities, known as reviewable agencies, included a number of education sector bodies such as Education and Training Boards, Universities, Institutes of Technology, the National Education for Special Education, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), Student Grant Appeal Boards and the Teaching Council.
While the Deputy has proposed an Ombudsman for Education I am aware of his particular interest in improving the position of parents who have grievances with individual schools. I plan to address the position of parents and students within the school system through new legislative provisions for each school to have a Parent and Student Charter.
A core objective of the Charter will be to shift away from reacting to problems only after they give rise to grievances. Instead the emphasis will be on improving the day-to-day experience students and their parents can expect from schools so that grievances do not arise at all or are resolved quickly and informally, and as a result having to resort to a formal grievance process should be much reduced.