I propose to take Questions Nos. 760 and 761 together.
Issues of staff discipline in schools are matters to be dealt with by the individual school authority, as employer, within the procedures agreed between the representative management and union bodies. My Department's role is limited to ensuring that fair and reasonable procedures were applied by the school authority concerned. It is open to a teacher, who alleges a lack of fair procedure in a school authority's handling of a complaint under a grievance or disciplinary procedure, to approach my Department in this regard or to pursue the matter through the various avenues provided under employment legislation.
My Department is currently considering the reports received in regard to the matters raised by the person named by the Deputy and expects to finalise its position shortly.