Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his plans to give parents access to more information regarding schools as a result of the proposed school evaluation system amounts to the introduction of a form of league table for primary schools. [9845/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I would like to clarify for the Deputy that my plans to give parents access to more information regarding schools relates to how each individual school communicates with the parents of children attending or about to attend that school about that school's operation and performance. It is not about the construction of national league tables for primary schools.

There is no room for complacency about educational standards and self evaluation by schools is important in identifying what is being done well and where there is a need for improvement. As a system of self evaluation develops I am anxious that in all cases work done by a school in that respect is shared with parents locally so that parents can be enabled to have a clear insight into the teaching and learning experience in the school.

In fact the parental role as part of a school's ongoing quality assurance and improvement is recognised in the 1998 Education Act, through the requirement for boards of management to establish procedures for informing the parents of students in the school of matters relating to the operation and performance of the school. My plans essentially involve ensuring that all schools deliver in a consistent and structured manner on that statutory intent.