Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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836. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the governance and accountability in place for patrons and boards of management at primary school level; the person or body that oversees accountability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14191/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The governance structure of primary schools is such that, in accordance with the Education Act 1998, the patron of a school does not have a direct role in the day to day management of the school.  

Under section 14 of the 1998 Act it is the duty of the school patron, for the purposes of ensuring that a recognised school is managed in a spirt of partnership to appoint a Board of Management. The composition of the Board is agreed nationally between patrons of schools, national associations of parents, recognised school management organisations, recognised trade unions and staff associations representing teachers and the Minister.

The Act provides, inter alia, that it is the duty of the Board to manage the school on behalf of the patron, for the benefit of the students and their parents and to provide or cause to be provided an appropriate education for each student at the school.  In general, the Board has the responsibility to ensure that the school operates efficiently and effectively.  Boards of management are required to comply with the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the relevant rules for schools and the terms of circulars issued by my Department. 

In primary schools the agreed composition and procedures for the appointment and operation of boards of management of primary schools are set out in my Department’s publication the “Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2019 – 2023”.