asked the Minister for Education if he will detail the steps to be taken by a parent who wishes his Department to investigate a complaint about a matter affecting his or her child at a national school.
Written Answers. - Investigation of Complaints.
356.
The steps to be taken depend on the nature of the complaint. If the complaint relates to the professional competence of a teacher, then such a complaint may be made directly to the Department in a letter signed by the complainant and the matter will then be investigated by an inspector of the Department. Complaints about other matters affecting a child at a national school should be made in the first instance to the principal of the school and subsequently, should that be desired, to the board of management of the school. Any complainant who has followed this procedure and is not satisfied with the outcome may then take the matter up with my Department if so desired.
357.
asked the Minister for Education, if he will detail the steps to be taken by a parent who wishes his Department to investigate a complaint about a matter affecting his or her child at a secondary, vocational, community or comprehensive school.
Complaints in this regard are matters in the first instance for the managerial authorities of the schools concerned. It is only in exceptional cases that material cause is shown which would warrant investigation by my Department and there are no formal steps prescribed for such cases.