Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 28, line 25, after “subsection (9)” to insert the following:“, at least two of whom shall be representative of learners”.

The Minister is welcome back. On Committee Stage I raised the need to have two learners on the body. I will not reiterate all the points I made then. Suffice it to say that there are 21 members on the board and there should be two who are directly representative of learners. There are parents' representatives but the needs, views, perspective and feedback of learners is so important at every level of education in terms of quality assurance and ensuring the education being delivered is valued by students that they should have an input. On the last occasion the Minister said he would think about this between Committee Stage and today and I hope he has had an opportunity to do so. This would be a very positive amendment if the Minister could accept it.