Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The issue relating to sections 28 and 29 must be addressed but it is not appropriate to this legislation. I will introduce further legislation in the near future. Section 28 of the Education Act 1998 provides for grievance and appeal procedures in schools. It expresses a desirability of determining appeals and resolving grievances in the schools concerned. I am not satisfied that the current provisions of section 28, which was of its time, and I plan to revise it in order to provide in law for a charter. There is a commitment to introduce a charter for parents and learners. The Deputy will be aware that changes to the Education Act 1998 will be necessary to provide for and support the introduction of a parents and learners charter, and that I am already considering amendments to sections 28 and 29 of the Education Act in that context.

The 1998 Act does not provide a cohesive approach to enhancing the manner in which parents and students are served by schools. With that in mind, a set of principles will be required to act as the foundation of a charter to strengthen the relationship between parents, students and schools and the position of parents and students generally within the school system. Therefore, discussion on the matter proposed by the Deputy is premature at this time. The Deputy will have an opportunity to have his proposals considered and debated in due course when amendments to sections 28 and 29 of the Education Act are progressed further. I intend to do that before the summer. There will be more appropriate legislation where we will be able to look at the issues in totality.