Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
1129. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the effectiveness of Section 19 of the Education Act 1998 in enabling patrons to intervene when Boards of Management fail to discharge their duties; whether additional powers or guidance are required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74778/25]
View answerThe Education Act, 1998 sets out the key roles and functions that are discharged by patrons and boards of management in the running of schools.
The governance structure of schools is such that, in accordance with the Education Act, 1998, the patron of a school does not have a direct role in the day to day management of the school which is a matter for the board of management.
The Act provides that it is the duty of the board of management to manage the school on behalf of the patron, for the benefit of the students and their parents and to provide or cause to be provided an appropriate education for each student at the school. The Act also provides for the dissolution of a board by the patron where the patron is satisfied that the functions of the board are not being effectively discharged.
Section 19 of the Education Act provides for the patron, where they are of the opinion that the functions of a board are not being effectively discharged, following issuing a notice to the board members and consideration of any representations received, to authorise any person or persons as the patron may deem appropriate to report to the patron on any matter arising from or relating to the operation of that board.
While the patron is required to inform the Minister where they propose to exercise functions under section 19, there is no requirement for the patron to provide the Minister with any further detail in relation to the matter.
Where a matter can’t be resolved informally the school should have a formal complaints procedure that can be followed. This procedure sets out what the parent may have to do and how long it should take the school to deal with the complaint. After reaching its decision, the school management authority will inform the parent of its decision. This decision ends the school complaints process.
The Department’s role in relation to parental complaints is to clarify for parents how their grievances and complaints against the school can be progressed.
There is also the option of raising the complaint with the Ombudsman for Children. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children may also independently investigate complaints relating to the administrative actions of a school recognised by the Department of Education provided the parent has fully followed the school's complaints procedures. The key criterion for any intervention by the Ombudsman for Children is that the administrative actions of a school has, or may have, adversely affected the child - Email: ococomplaint@oco.ie or Freephone: 1800 20 20 40.
