Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Boards of management will need to seek volunteers from the end of this year because those who volunteer will have to accept legal liability for abuse, misdemeanours and other problems that may arise following staff appointments to the schools for which they have responsibility. On the other hand, appointments to other bodies are made on the basis of political patronage which, in many cases, involves medieval handouts in the tradition of gifts and favours for whatever was rendered by the appointees in the past or for loyalty to the party. Volunteers to boards of management usually are the parents of the children attending the school and they give their time and expertise so they can help their children. They must also pay for training courses so they are updated on legislation relating to the work environment, appointments procedures, health and safety and so on. The contrast is stark and it is an absolute disgrace the Government is telling them that they will be legally liable for any problem in their school as a result of appointments made by them.

In considering this legislation, I ask the Government to address the injustice it is visiting on school boards of management. They are wondering how they will be able to continue and find volunteers to fill vacancies when their terms end and how they will be able to run schools, which are the responsibility of the State and not of the parents who are doing their best to help a Government which is not prepared to pull its weight. Unless this is addressed, Government Members will be reminded of this injustice on the doorsteps by people who will say it is unacceptable for a Government to walk away and place liability for problems that may arise as a result of staff appointments in the hands of volunteer parents who are doing their best for their children.

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