Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 561: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the procedures available to him to replace the patron of a school and to end the involvement of a patron who has mismanaged the running of a school; the number of times that this has happened since the Education Act 1998 came into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27155/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Education Act, 1998 does not contain any provision whereby the Minister can replace the patron of a school.

Section 11 of the Education Act 1998 provides for withdrawal of recognition of a school where the Minister is satisfied that the requirements for recognition of a school are not being met by a school or that the functions of a school are not being effectively discharged.

In accordance with the Education Act 1998, the governance structure of our schools is such that, the day to day management of schools is a matter for the Board of Management as distinct from the patron. The Education Act provides for the dissolution of a Board by the patron where either the patron or the Minister is satisfied that the functions of the Board are not being effectively discharged.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 562: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the allegations made against a former patron of schools (details supplied) in County Kilkenny regarding complaints that should have been notified to the National Board for Safeguarding Children; if his further attention has been drawn to a newspaper article on this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27159/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the newspaper article referred to by the Deputy and I note that the newspaper has asserted that to protect the children's anonymity the school in question is not mentioned in the article.

Since late 2006, my Department received a number of allegations against some teachers employed at a school in Kilkenny. My Department is aware from this correspondence that the nature of these allegations was brought to the attention of the former school Patron, by solicitors acting for the parents of the children at this school.

Under the statutory guidelines and procedures the Board of Management of the School as employer of the teachers investigated these allegations as did the HSE and the DPP.