Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 787: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to recent questions on the difficulties experienced by persons of a non-Catholic ethos seeking employment in Catholic schools, who can be rejected from such posts due to the exemption these schools enjoy from the Equality Act 2004 despite the fact that the person's religion may have nothing to do with the position sought, her views on whether it is time to revisit or address this anomaly; the positive steps she has taken, or proposes to take, with regard to this discrepancy; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties this has caused a number of people, for example a person (details supplied) in County Galway seeking employment; the advice she can offer such persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9667/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the Education Act, schools are managed by the Patron and the Patron is responsible for the direct governance of a school. The Patron nominates a Board of Management to manage a school on its behalf.

Section 24 (1) of the Education Act 1998 provides that the Board of Management "may appoint such and so many persons as teachers and other staff of a school as the board from time to time thinks necessary for the performance of its powers and functions under this Act". Section 24(3) of the Act also states that "A board shall appoint teachers and other staff, who are to be paid from monies provided by the Oireachtas, and may suspend or dismiss such teachers and staff, in accordance with procedures agreed from time to time between the Minister, the patron, recognised school management organisations and any recognised trade union and staff association representing teachers or other staff as appropriate". There are no plans to change the position in this regard.