Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans regarding the provision of representation for parents on the boards of management of comprehensive schools; and the timetable for her proposals. [29801/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department continues to work with all the interested parties on the inclusion of parent representatives on boards of management of comprehensive schools. Agreement has been reached on the revised composition of the boards, which have a different composition in each of the sectors — Catholic, Protestant and Jesuit. The revised composition of the boards provides for two parent representatives in each instance. The work on the revision of the legal instruments in the case of the Jesuit comprehensive has been completed, and a new board including parents has been established.

In the case of the Catholic comprehensives, the text of the legal instruments has been agreed, and my Department awaits confirmation from the Catholic legal representatives as to the intended circulation date of the revised document for execution by individual bishops. Talks are continuing with representatives of the Protestant comprehensives with a view to resolving outstanding issues relating to those schools.