Vol. 499 No. 1
969 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the progress being made to ensure that all schools have fair constituted management structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1544/99]
Section 14 of the Education Act, 1998, makes provision for the establishment and membership of boards of management, in line with my policy that all schools should have such structures. I have indicated, on a number of occasions, that I believe all schools should have inclusive boards of management. New arrangements for the composition and functioning of boards of management of national schools were agreed with the partners in education in 1997 and implemented by mid-December of that year. I am satisfied that fairly constituted management structures are in place at primary level.
It is my intention to facilitate similar agreements between the relevant partner groups at second level. In that regard, I should mention that my Department has initiated discussions with the relevant groups to secure agreement on broadening representation on the boards of comprehensive schools to include parents and teachers.
