Written answers

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Department of Education and Skills

Proposed Legislation

9:00 pm

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when legislation will be brought forward to amend existing legislation under the National Educational Welfare Act 2000 which would expand the remit of the act and the resources of the National Education Welfare Board to all children enrolled in any school regardless of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9421/11]

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a Department of Children was announced by the Taoiseach on 9 March and Minister Frances Fitzgerald has been appointed as its first Minister.

On its establishment the new Department will take responsibility for the National Education Welfare Board and arrangements are being made for the formal transfer of functions from the Department of Education and Skills.

It is envisaged that while the functions of the Board can be transferred by Order under section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939, it will be necessary to bring forward legislation to amend certain sections of the Educational (Welfare) Act, 2000 to ensure synchronicity between the respective Departmental functions.

In that context, in principle, I would see merit in an approach where parents, who have chosen to enrol a child under the age of six years in a school, would be treated under the law in the same manner as parents of children over the age of six years and that the same provisions would apply in such cases. The timetable for the legislation has not been set but it will be given further consideration in the near future.

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