Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure to be followed when persons file a case of bullying against a teacher; the procedures the board of management should follow; and the avenues available to persons that are not happy with the way the matter is dealt with through official channels. [22844/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Under the Education Act 1998 the school Board of Management (BOM) is the body charged with the direct governance of a school, and it is the BOM which employs the staff at the school.

Accordingly, whereas my Department provides funding and policy direction for schools, my Department does not have the power to instruct schools to follow a particular course of direction with regard to individual complaint cases.

My Department's role is to clarify for parents and students how their grievances and complaints against schools can be progressed.

As my Department has no role in the employment of staff in schools or schools’ day to day management, a complaint about the child’s school and its staff should be made to the school itself.

Where there is cause for complaint from a parent matters would normally be addressed to the individual teacher or school Principal as appropriate. If matters cannot be resolved at that level then a complaint can be addressed to the school BOM. A school may have a formal complaints process in which case this should be followed in pursuing any complaint.

The professional standards for teachers are set by the Teaching Council of Ireland. Information on these standards can be accessed on their website.

If a parent or guardian wishes to pursue a complaint about teaching staff the matter should be addressed to the local school authorities. The procedures are those agreed between school management bodies and teacher representative bodies.

The Office of the Ombudsman for Children may independently investigate complaints relating to the administrative actions of a school recognised by the Department of Education and Skills, provided the parent has firstly and fully followed the school’s complaints procedures. The key criterion for any intervention by the Ombudsman for Children is that the administrative actions of a school has, or may have, adversely affected the child.

The office can be contacted at: Ombudsman for Children’s Office, Millennium House, 52-56 Great Strand Street, Dublin 1; tel. 1800 20 20 40 or (01) 865 6800 or email oco@oco.ie.

Schools and school personnel are also required to comply with my Department's "Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools" which are based on the "Children First - National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011".

If any individual feels that there is a Child Protection concern they should bring the concern to the attention of the Designated Liaison Person (DLP) or Principal of the school. The DLP will be responsible for making a report to the Child and Family Agency (Tusla). An individual may wish to contact the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) - Children and Family Services directly as the relevant statutory authority with responsibility for Child Protection welfare and protection. The Child and Family Agency social workers contact details in each region can be found on their website at .

Alternatively, an individual can report a child protection concern to my Department by telephoning (090) 648 4099 or by emailing childprotection@education.gov.ie.

Any allegation of a child protection nature received by staff in my Department is dealt with in accordance with my Department’s Procedures for responding to Child Protection Concerns brought to the attention of staff employed by the Department of Education and Skills. Under these procedures my Department does not make any judgment on the concerns brought to its attention and ensures that the details of the concern reported to the Department are immediately passed on to the relevant investigatory authorities, including the relevant school authorities, the Child and Family Agency and/or An Garda Síochána. My Department cannot guarantee confidentiality to complainants in such circumstances as the information it receives must be passed on to the relevant authorities for investigation, including any details of the person reporting the concern.

My Department's website www.education.ie is a useful source of information. The section dealing with parental complaints, bullying and child protection is www.education.ie/en/Parents/Information/Complaints-Bullying-Child-Protection-Discrimination.