Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

26. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has had a manager in place managing the school, and not a board of management, for over a year; the reason the manager of the school has reversed the decision to take in three first year classes for September 2015 and is now only enrolling two first year classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23278/14]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the appointment of a Board of Management of a school is a matter for the relevant school patron. Under the provisions of this Act, where a patron determines that the appointment of a board is not practicable, or where the patron, with the consent of the Minister, has dissolved a board of management, the patron may appoint a manager or managers to perform the functions of the board. In accordance with these provisions, the patron appointed a single manager to the school in question in May 2013.

In relation to the enrolment policy of the school, the Deputy will be aware that this, including the number of pupils to be admitted in any given year, is primarily a matter for the school authority itself subject to the approval of the patron. In that regard, my Department has recently been informed by the school patron that the manager of the school is currently working with the Principal and parents in constructing an admissions policy for 2015.