Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 760: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the role of her Department in response to bullying amongst staff members in a vocational educational committee school; the action which will be taken by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14222/06]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 761: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason her Department asked for a person (details supplied) in County Offaly to furnish them with a report in relation to issues of bullying; the reason they also sought a report of this from the school and from the vocational educational committee in question; the reason no further action has been taken by her Department by seeking these reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14223/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 760 and 761 together.

Issues of staff discipline in schools are matters to be dealt with by the individual school authority, as employer, within the procedures agreed between the representative management and union bodies. My Department's role is limited to ensuring that fair and reasonable procedures were applied by the school authority concerned. It is open to a teacher, who alleges a lack of fair procedure in a school authority's handling of a complaint under a grievance or disciplinary procedure, to approach my Department in this regard or to pursue the matter through the various avenues provided under employment legislation.

My Department is currently considering the reports received in regard to the matters raised by the person named by the Deputy and expects to finalise its position shortly.