Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

302. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons section 28 of the 1998 Education Act, which empowers his Department to put in place a nationally agreed complaints/grievance procedure for parents has not yet been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23319/14]

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

Section 28 of the Education Act 1998 provides for grievance and appeal procedures in schools. It expresses a desirability of determining appeals and resolving grievances in the school concerned.

I am not satisfied with the current provisions of Section 28. 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. Changing how schools engage with, listen and respond to parent concerns will be an important part of a Charter. Providing parents with the rationale for any decision is important. If schools help parents to understand the basis for a decision parents are more likely to accept the fairness of decisions.