Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 30 November 2017, the validity of a decision by the board of management of a primary school to remove a member of the board of management (details supplied) and to replace that member with a new one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52628/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Section 14 of the Education Act 1998, provides that the appointment of a Board of Management of a school is solely a matter for the relevant school patron.

Section 16 of the Education Act 1998 provides that the patron may, either dissolve a Board if they are dissatisfied that the functions of a Board are not being effectively discharged or in the case of an individual member of the a Board, the Patron with the consent of the Minister, for good and valid reasons may remove a member from a board.

In circumstances where a Patron proposes to remove a member of a Board they must follow the process set out in the Education Act which provides for an opportunity for the board member concerned to make representations to the Patron. The Patron may still decide to remove a member of a Board thereafter having considered any representations made and subject the approval of the Minister.   

The Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2015 – 2019, published by my Department sets out the various rules for the composition and operation of Boards of Management including the appointment and removal of members of the Board by the Patron. The Governance Manual also provides guidance in relation to situations where a serving board member may become ineligible to serve on a board.