Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
386. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of a mechanism whereby a school parents’ association can ensure that there is engagement from the board of management of the school; if her Department offers impartial mediation support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15126/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Education Act 1998 the Board of Management of a school is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. The Board of Management is accountable to the Patron of the school.
While the Department of Education provides funding and policy direction for schools, the Department does not have the power to instruct schools to follow a particular course of direction with regard to individual complaint cases. The Department's role is to clarify for parents and students how their grievances and complaints against schools can be progressed.
A school may have a formal complaints process in which case this should be followed in pursuing any complaint.
Where a parents's association is of the view that a school's board of management has failed to investigate or adequately investigate a complaint, the matter can be raised directly with the Chairperson of the board of management by correspondence marked "Private and Confidential".
If this complaint route is not satisfactory to the parents' association there is also the option of raising a complaint with the Ombudsman for Children. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children may independently investigate complaints about schools recognised by the Department of Education, provided that the school's complaints procedures have been followed. The key criterion for any intervention by the Ombudsman for Children is that the administrative actions or non-actions of a school has, or, may have, adversely affected a child.
Further information is available on the gov.ie website: https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/complaints-about-schools/
