Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2016
174. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the potential remit of an ombudsman for education, as committed to under the programme for Government; when he will establish this office; if its remit will include appeals of decisions affecting children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11555/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Programme for a Partnership Government provides that the role and power of an Ombudsman for Education, to whom a parent could complain and appeal on foot of a decision by a board of management, will be examined by the relevant Oireachtas Committee to ensure its consistency with the need to ensure better local decision making and accountability to parents.
The Programme also provides that the Government will introduce a stronger complaints procedure and charter for parents, and commence the Fitness to Teach provisions of the Teaching Council Act.
Both of these commitments are part of a continuum because having a dedicated ombudsman with a power to deal with parental complaints would be a residual, but potentially important, function where local resolution has failed.
I think that the relevant Oireachtas Committee will need to consider both programme commitments together. Work already underway in my Department envisages legislative change to Section 28 of the Education Act 1998, and creating an ombudsman with powers to externally review school actions would require new legislation that could be progressed in tandem.
The remit of a possible Ombudsman for Education will be examined by the relevant Oireachtas Committee when they consider both programme commitments. Any decisions on the timeline for establishing an Ombudsman for Education Office can only be considered after the relevant Oireachtas Committee have completed their work on reviewing both programme commitments.
