Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if in his view the Ombudsman for Children has a role to investigate any administrative decision made by a school board of management which has been complained to the ombudsman by a parent who believes the decision has affected his or her child negatively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18220/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The statutory role and functions of the Children's Ombudsman are set out under sections 8 and 9 in the Ombudsman for Children Act, 2002. The Act empowers the Children's Ombudsman to investigate the administrative procedures followed by a school board of management provided the parent has firstly and fully followed the schools complaints procedures. The key criterion for any intervention by the Ombudsman is that a child has, or may have been negatively affected by the action of a school. As the Deputy is aware I am not satisfied with the current provisions of Section 28 of the Education Act 1998. I plan to revise it in order to provide in law for a Parent and Student Charter. I plan to consult with the Ombudsman for Children's Office on this matter.