Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is in a position to approve a scheme for reconstituted boards of management in comprehensive schools to allow for the participation of parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17050/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Agreement has been reached with all the interested parties on the revised composition of the boards of management of comprehensive schools. The revised composition is different in each of the sectors — Catholic, Protestant and Jesuit — but common to each sector is the inclusion of two parent representatives.

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 is established.

In the case of the Catholic comprehensives, the text of the legal instruments has been agreed and will be executed over the next few weeks, with each of the Catholic bishops in whose diocese a Catholic comprehensive school is located. The current boards of management have been advised by my Department to make the necessary preparations at school level for the selection of parent and teacher representation on the new boards so that the new boards can assume office at the earliest opportunity.

Discussions are continuing with representatives of the Protestant comprehensive schools with a view to reaching agreement on the text of the legal instruments for that sector.