Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to ensure that the new boards of management that will take up office in late 2007 have access to training and support on a wide range of issues. [18368/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In recognition of the responsibility which the Education Act has imposed on Boards of Management and the increasingly complex environment in which they must operate, the Teacher Education Section (TES) of my Department has developed a scheme for the provision of support to school management bodies for the purpose of training and development of boards of management in the discharge of their duties and consistent with national and DES priorities.

This scheme, which is administered through Drumcondra Education Centre has significant input from the representative bodies from both the Primary and Post-Primary Sector. The essential core areas covered in the training are Financial Management, Child Protection Guidelines, Health & Safety and Employment and HR. Other areas to be covered in training include Background Information re: Education System, Role and Function of the Board, How a BOM Operates, Policies and Procedures. The representative bodies may provide training in additional areas which they identify pertaining to their respective areas.

The new boards of management appointed in late 2007, to which the Deputy refers are predominantly in the primary sector. Consequently, a training of trainers session was held earlier this year by the School Development Planning Service, using materials and supports developed by the SDP. This session was tailored for trainers selected by the various primary school management bodies to provide direct training to Boards of Management. A further training for trainers day will be held in the Autumn.