Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This Bill essentially seeks to address the unused legislative powers under section 28 of the Education Act 1998 that gives the Minister powers to intervene and have more of an active role in resolving disputes and complaints that are lodged by parents in respect of schools and their operations. It stipulates that the Minister will engage with stakeholders and prescribe procedures for dealing with such complaints.

The Bill is also welcome as it details and provides for the construction of a charter between parents and students and their respective schools. It provides for the statutory oversight of the Minister and her Department in the process of devising this charter in which the school boards have to consult with various stakeholders in their preparation, including parents of students, parents associations, principals, students, staff, patrons and student councils. Generally speaking, that is a great call. Hopefully, it will remedy certain issues that were being reported across national media over the last few years, including ambiguities and pressure around so-called "voluntary" school cost contributions which have effectively pitted schools against parents and created unnecessary animosity between the two. Why? The schools are not resourced properly by the Department and as such need supplementary income from parents to cover the day-to-day running of them. Parents who cannot easily afford this voluntary payment feel judged, pressured and uncomfortable with the request. I can relate to that. I completely understand it and fully believe it should not be allowed to continue. It is just one of the issues that a student and parent charter would clarify and rectify.

I appreciate that the programme for Government includes a commitment to enact the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill. However, it would be remiss of me to not mention the distinct lack of progress on other legislation in respect of education. I find it hard to stomach the fact that we can stand here in these Chambers and discuss a Bill like this when so many other Government commitments to equitable, accessible, local, integrated education remain grossly overlooked. I refer specifically to the Ennis Educate Together school. I cannot help but mention the inhumane pressure that the principal of the school is being put under. The misallocation of DEIS band, the refusal to provide long-term accommodation and the lack of supports for children with ASD are just a few of the numerous challenges that the school faces on a daily basis. The charter is a welcome development indeed, but it does not compare to the emergency situation of human rights negligence and the health the safety nightmare that is occurring at the Ennis Educate Together school.

This Bill is necessary, but what about the wide array of other legislation that has passed through the Houses but has yet to be fully enacted or commenced? I believe it is ultimately counterproductive to bring forward more legislation when there are copious amounts of law yet to be implemented. The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, from 17 years ago, for example, is among other existing legislation that is yet to bear fruit and benefit the educational experiences of children on this island.

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