Written answers

Tuesday, 24 January 2017

Department of Education and Skills

Teaching Council of Ireland

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he will address concerns that the Teaching Council, in the absence of a statutory complaints procedure for use at school level, will be expected to address complaints which are better resolved at local level and thus have less resources to deal with very serious complaints which may arise. [2990/17]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Programme for a Partnership Government provides that the Government will introduce a stronger complaints procedure and charter for parents.

On 5 December 2016, I published the General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016. The Government have approved the draft outline of a new law, which will require every school to consult with parents and students, and publish and operate a Parent and Student Charter.

The publication of this draft legislation will fulfil a key commitment in the Action Plan for Education to improve information and complaint procedures for parents and students relating schools. The draft legislation defines the principles that will guide how schools will engage with students and parents.

Following consultation with our education partners, including the National Parents Council (Primary), National Parents Council (Post Primary) and the Irish Second-level Students Union, I will finalise national guidelines on a Parent and Student Charter.

The draft Bill will now go to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills for pre-legislative scrutiny.

In relation to Part 5 (Fitness to Teach) of the Teaching Council Act, the provisions of both sections 24 and 28 are relevant to the new investigatory powers of the Teaching Council. Section 24, is particularly significant as it provides to schools as employers the procedures to deal with teacher conduct or underperformance. It would be expected that schools, as employers, would deal with issues of teacher conduct or underperformance under Section 24 procedures. In addition, it would be expected that parental complaints in relation to teacher conduct or underperformance may also be dealt with under Section 24 procedures by the school, as employer.

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