Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone for their second round of contributions. It is clear that we are all trying to get to the same place but we have some differing views and some very similar views of how we do that. I have tossed this around in my head for a long time and I have couple of brief points to make.

I accept what the Ombudsman for Children states, that having a separate ombudsman for education can introduce another layer of bureaucracy dealing specifically with education whereas the Ombudsman for Children would like to be able to deal with education, as well as Tusla, the HSE and all of the agencies. My response to that viewpoint, is that there is a Department and a Minister with responsibility for Education and Skills and a Department and Minister with responsibility for Health. That is the way we organise our administration. It would not be the worst idea to have an ombudsman, who would be independent, to have oversight of a Department of Education and Skills with a budget of €8 billion.

I would like to hear the officials comment on educational welfare. I see evidence of the acknowledgement of educational welfare along with physical, spiritual and emotional welfare. Ultimately I am trying to achieve recognition of educational welfare. I have tabled a parliamentary question on the number of complaints from schools on an annual basis. Many parents would not know about the role of the Ombudsman for Children and would not think to make a complaint about a problem in school to the Ombudsman. I would appreciate if the witnesses would provide the committee with the figures for the number of complaints.

I accept the Primary Principals Network, IPPN, has a contention about another layer of administration, in addition to the Teaching Council and the National Education Welfare Board. I understand there is no layer dealing with boards of management and I accept if the Minister can take responsibility for boards of management through the Ombudsman for Children, we are bridging that gap. To broaden the focus of the role of an ombudsman for education, it would not be just about complaints and grievances, it is only because I respect the work of both Mr. Peter Tyndall, Ombudsman and Information Commissioner and Dr. Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children and their respective offices, that I have such high regard and a strong desire to see an ombudsman specifically dedicated to education. It is not a negative reflection on their offices.

I see the role of an ombudsman as being far greater than dealing with grievances. The crucial role of an ombudsman is to lobby and to hold Government to account and to write reports on aspects of failings in the system and putting it up to Government to come forward. School principals have an extraordinary workload. I was a school principal and it was the most thankless job I ever did. The job I am doing now is not hugely rewarding but I would never be a teaching principal. I would not recommend being one in its current format. I would like to see an education ombudsman who would be responsible solely for issues of education tackling that kind of issue. It needs to be highlighted for Government that what is expected of teaching principals is grossly irresponsible. I would see an ombudsman as a strength in dealing with this and other such issues. The need for an ombudsman for education is a debate for another day.