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

I thank all the witnesses who contributed. It is obvious that they put time and effort into responding to both Bills that have been presented. This is our third round of pre-legislative scrutiny on these two Bills.

What consultations did each of the contributors undertake in their own sectors in preparing their responses to the legislation? It is no surprise to me that most of the partners here are against the establishment of an ombudsman for education. Indeed, most of the partners involved in education are against the idea. The Department of Education and Skills is leading the charge against the establishment of an ombudsman's office but that has only convinced me all the more that there is a need for such an office. The resistance, led by the Department in the first instance, to the establishment of an ombudsman for education suggests to me that there is a fear around that. In that context, I will make a couple of brief points on the fear factor surrounding the idea of an ombudsman for education.

An ombudsman for education is not just for complaints about teachers, as seems to be a common perception out there. An ombudsman for education is a support for teachers because teachers are often victims in the education system and can have complaints as much as anyone else. An ombudsman for education would be there for teachers, SNAs, principals and for the much mentioned board of management members. If I was sitting on a board of management and making a decision, I would be much happier doing so in the knowledge that there was an ombudsman in the sector and that people would have the right to appeal any decision made by the board. We have an ombudsman for the defence forces and for An Garda Síochána but many of us have gone through our lives without ever having dealt with those bodies. We also have an ombudsman for pensions. Nine out of ten people will interact with the education system. In fact, almost everyone in the country will interact with the education system at some level and in that context, the resistance to the establishment of an ombudsman for education is puzzling.

I wish to refer to the costs, which were mentioned today and during our last meeting. While I am deeply touched by so many people worrying about the costs of an ombudsman's office, I want to nail that point immediately. The establishment of an ombudsman's office that might cost €700,000 or €800,000 but in the context of a budget of €8 billion, that is a tiny percentage. It is a pittance in the greater scheme of things but it could improve the quality and experience of education for all of the partners in the system, not just the students and parents, but the teachers, SNAs, board members, principals and so on.

One contributor touched on the fact that an ombudsman's office could take on an advocacy role and that is what is behind the reluctance on the part of the Department. The Department is not just hesitant about this but has objected outright. I resent the fact that the Department has insisted on putting the two Bills side by side, as if they are competing with each other. It is clouding the judgment and the debate by insisting that the two Bills are given pre-legislative scrutiny together.