Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019
222. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure for the removal of clergy who have not resigned or become ineligible to serve by patrons from school boards of management following diocesan changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4096/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe mechanisms under which a Board of Management member may be removed are as follows:
Section 16 of the Education Act, 1998, provides that a patron may, with the consent of the Minister, for good and valid reasons stated in writing to a member of a board of management remove that member from that office, or if satisfied that the functions of a board are not being effectively discharged, dissolve that board.
Section 7 of the Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2015 - 2019 sets out the circumstances in which Board members may be removed or membership of a board of management shall cease.
As Minister, I have no function within Section 16 until such time as the Patron seeks my consent under Section 16 (1). Furthermore, as Minister, while I have a statutory role regarding the removal of a member of a Board, I have no statutory role in respect of members who cease to be members of Boards for varied reasons.
