| Parents are legally protected on School Boards | Monday, April 16, 2007 |
| €1m funding available to provide training for Boards “Parents serving on school Boards of Management are providing a crucial and valued service for their whole community. In carrying out their functions on the Board they are protected from any personal liability should legal action be taken against that Board” the Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin T.D. said today (16th April 2007). The Minister addressed over 200 parents attending the National Parents Council Primary conference, now in its 21st year, at the Great Southern Hotel, Dublin Airport. Minister Hanafin said that the contribution of parents on school boards in some 3,200 primary schools across the country is a wonderful example of active citizenship put in practice. The Minister also said she wanted to allay fears that may have arisen in recent times following coverage of the responsibilities of Board members. “By the end of this year all current primary school boards will have completed their four year term of office and will be replaced by newly established Boards of Management from 1st December. It is vitally important that parents know with certainty that they have legal protections afforded to them in carrying out their valuable role on the board. Indeed, the Attorney General has confirmed that where a member of a Board of Management performs their functions in good faith under the Education Act, no action can lie against them personally, if there was a finding of liability against the Board itself as a corporate body, say in relation to the employment of a teacher. Recent coverage also implied that boards were left to work in isolation unsupported by the Department of Education and Science. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is a strong partnership approach right across the education sector in relation to policy and regulatory issues in which the parents are a key partner. The Department supports the Management bodies, such as CPSMA, in areas such as school staffing, teacher personnel, training and industrial relations issues that impact on schools.” Minister Hanafin said that the voluntary effort of parents for their school community was the bedrock of good community spirit, and the Government will continue to support parents in their role. “With new Boards being established later this year, €1million is available to specifically train boards on issues such as good governance, financial management, bullying and child protection. We will continue to liaise with the Management bodies to see what further training is required once initial training has been completed.” Minister Hanafin went on to pay a special warm tribute to Fionnuala Kilfeather who is stepping down as Chief Executive of NPC. “Fionnuala has worked tirelessly in making sure that parents’ voices are heard and that their concerns are to the forefront of decision making and policy discussions. As NPC comes of age this year, having served parents for the last 21 years, it will continue to lead the way for parents across a diverse and ever-changing society that we all live in.” |
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