Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

From what the Minister of State is saying, it seems to be reasonable and fair. To clarify matters, the parents' associations within schools must nominate somebody to the national association first so the national association will not be just a lucky dip. There will be a chain of command and it will come from the bottom up. The local associations must nominate somebody and if they are nominating someone, that person would have an interest in and knowledge of the issue. He or she will be the choice of his or her peers. If what the Minister of State is saying is correct, that is welcome, including the fact that he or she must be a stakeholder vis-à-vis his or her son or daughter being a pupil in the school.

In respect of another amendment, Deputy O'Brien made the point that parents are serving on these boards, be they boards of management or the boards of the new ETBs, in a voluntary capacity.

With the best will in the world and with their own expertise to provide, it is only right and appropriate that a certain amount of training should be afforded them before they are asked to sit on the education and training board to ensure that they are fully equipped and aware of their responsibilities as board members.

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