Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a definite concern regarding the operation of school boards and management and ensuring proper linkages. I take the point about unacceptable practices from the past, which we must get away from. In VECs across the country, members would have had to travel to schools far away when somebody who lived closer could have just as easily represented the VEC board of management.

With the way the Bill is laid out, it is quite likely that in many instances boards of management could be meeting without members of the education and training board being present. That creates governance issues, including ensuring proper linkages between the education and training board and a board of management. Issues may arise and people should be in a position to contribute to an education and training board meeting with authority with regard to what is going on with the board of management. If we do not ensure in legislation that education and training board members are always present at board of management meetings, there will be governance issues that could be preventable. These will take up time if experience is not brought to bear.

We have mentioned areas that are close to two or three counties, but I am not looking for large boards. We have reduced the number of education and training board members. When we speak about a large geographical area, there is a difficulty with the workload that is put on board members, and we should balance having an efficient education and training board with ensuring there is capacity without exceptional duress to be present at board of management meetings. This concerns a critical role of the education and training board with regard to governance. Boards of management often need such interaction but with this legislation, the obligation is not there.

Some of the amendments seek additional members on a board where three VECs are amalgamating. Elected representatives will ensure there is good representation from each area but there should be additional parent representatives, preferably one from each county. Without having such a level of flexibility, there will be exceptional pressure on an education and training board in carrying out the role and linking properly to boards of management. I object to the types of practice that went on in the past in many VECs, and we must ensure that we take the most sensible approach in ensuring we involve people who live close by.

In some instances it may be useful to have a board member from outside a parish, as it can be difficult for those close to an issue to act. This should be taken within reason. Will the Minister comment on this?