Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2019
133. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the method by which education and training boards select members for their boards of management; the duration for boards of management of ETBs; and the terms of reference of each. [28823/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraBoards of Management of ETB schools and community colleges are committees of the ETB. Section 44 of the Education and Training Board Act 2013 provides for the establishment of such committees. This section provides that such a committee shall consist of not more than 12 members and that the chief executive or staff of the ETB, other than a staff member who is a member of the Education and Training Board, shall not be a member of a committee of the Board. The section also provides that an ETB may appoint a person to be chairperson of such a committee.
In February 2015, pursuant to Sections 44(11) and 44(12)(c) of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, the then Minister for Education and Skills directed that boards of management of schools and other centres of education established by an education and training board under section 44 may consist exclusively of members who are not members of the education and training board by which they were established.
Boards of Management of ETB schools and community colleges should be constituted as per the Board of Management Handbook for Education and Training Boards and Boards of Management of ETB Schools and Community Colleges which has been prepared by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) in conjunction with the sector and with my Department. A copy of this handbook is in the following link for the Deputy's information. ETBIHandbook The arrangements in relation to membership of Boards are set out on pages 17 and 18 of the handbook.
The handbook provides that the term of office of a board of management of an ETB school or community College is normally for the duration of the term of office of the ETB, other than in the case of a newly established college. Following the local elections in 2014, the term of ETB Boards of Management was extended until 31st May 2015 in order to provide continuity of service in schools and centres of education during the initial period following the expiry of the term of office of the new ETB Boards. Following the recent local elections, I have directed that the term of office of Finance, Audit & Risk Committees and Boards of Management of schools and other centres of education operated by ETBs may be extended to 30th November 2019 in order to facilitate transition and to ensure continuity of governance and oversight during this period of changeover from the current Committees and Boards to the new Committees and Boards of ETBs.
In relation to terms of reference of ETB Boards of Management, section B of the handbook deals with matters relating to the role, powers, functions, establishment, dissolution, membership and operation of a school/college board of management while section C of the Handbook deals with the specific duties and responsibilities of a school/college board of management.
