Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 924: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to encourage the development of student representative councils for post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10654/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Officials of my Department are participating in a working group on student councils, which was established in June 2003 by the National Children's Office. The working group, as part of its brief, will seek to identify the barriers, if any, to the establishment of student councils and the measures needed to encourage the establishment of student councils, including supports for student council structures at national and local level.

The working group on student councils, which is chaired by the National Children's Office and is representative of students and all the partners in education, was set up to encourage the establishment of effective and democratic student councils in all post-primary schools in the country. This is in accordance with the Education Act 1998, which encourages the establishment of student councils in all post-primary schools and with goal one of the national children's strategy which is to give children and young people a voice in matters that affect their lives.

Under section 27 of the Education Act 1998, students in a post-primary school may establish a student council, the role of which is to promote the involvement of students in the affairs of the school in co-operation with the board of management, parents and teachers. This development originated in my Department's recognition that students have a voice and a contribution to make to their school and these councils can play an integral and important role in the school community by providing a representative structure through which students can debate issues of concern and undertake initiatives of benefit to the school and the wider community.

In 2002, my Department issued comprehensive guidelines on student councils to all second level schools. The guidelines, entitled, Student Councils: A Voice for Students, provide practical guidance for school management, teachers and students in relation to the establishment and operation of student councils.

The working group will report on its findings, including a proposed three-year strategy to support the establishment and development of student councils, to the Minister of State with responsibility for children by June 2005.