Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 25:

In page 10, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following:“(f) an explanation of the role of the Ombudsman for Children under section 9 of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 and the complaints procedure thereof.”.

The amendment proposes an amendment to the new section 28 of the Education Act 1998, which relates to the procedures available to students and parents to resolve grievances with schools. It sets out the matters that must be included in the procedures for dealing with grievances, how grievance will be investigated and resolved and how any decisions will be implemented.

The amendment proposes to insert an additional subsection which would require that any school procedures relating to grievances would include an explanation of the role that the Ombudsman for Children can play when investigating complaints against a school under section 9 of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. Section 9 provides that the ombudsman can investigate the actions of a recognised school and provides an option for recourse for students and parents who have not had an issue resolved locally and with their own board of management. The ombudsman plays a key national role in this respect, offering expertise, experience and a statutory basis to make investigations into the actions of the school. I want to ensure that the procedures for resolving grievances within schools and for students and parents to complain within their school environments also include a description of the options to escalate the issue to the Office of the Ombudsman for Children.

This Bill sets out a new collaborate to school grievances, which I welcome. Unfortunately, there will always be issues that cannot be resolved in the local school environment and will need the intervention of the ombudsman to resolve them. I want to see a statutory guarantee that an explanation of this route will be set out in the procedures relating to grievances. I hope the Minister will accept my amendment.