The council of an chomhairle is composed of a chairperson and 22 members drawn from representative bodies involved in Irish language education. Membership of the council was agreed in 2001 following consultations with relevant representative groups, including gaelscoileanna, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta and Comhdáil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge.
The council is composed of: one chairperson nominated by the Minister; three nominees of Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta; three nominees of gaelscoileanna; two nominees of teachers — one each from a Gaeltacht school and a gaelscoil; two nominees of parents — one each from a Gaeltacht school and a gaelscoil; two nominees of school management — one each from a Gaeltacht school and a gaelscoil; four nominees of teacher unions — two each from primary and post-primary school; two nominees of the Minister; one nominee of Foras na Gaeilge; one nominee of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge; and two members co-opted by an chomhairle, such members to have a particular knowledge of and expertise in the study and research of the Irish language.
With regard to the nominations of teachers, parents and school management, it was agreed with my Department that the nominations would be a matter for gaelscoileanna and Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta, subject to the proviso that the elected persons would be members of a board of management of a gaelscoil or Gaeltacht school.
The first four-year term of office of the chomhairle is due to end on 11 March 2006. It was agreed at the autumn 2005 meeting of the chomhairle, at the request of two organisations, that the nominations for future elections in regard to the parent, teacher and management representatives of Gaeltacht schools and gaelscoileanna would be organised directly by the chomhairle. A document outlining a five-stage process was approved at the board meeting of 24 November 2005 and is accessible at www.cogg.ie.
These rules were prepared by a sub-committee and later approved by the board of the chomhairle but, as the election progressed, it emerged they were not sufficiently detailed to deal with a number of issues which subsequently arose. Given that there has not been sufficient time for these specific issues to be discussed and agreed in advance of the election, I have agreed to extend the term of office of the current board for a further period as an exceptional matter. This will allow time for the chomhairle to engage in detailed discussions with the relevant interests to allow for the election procedures to be specified in greater detail and agreed with the parties concerned.