IPPN

Published: 09 March 2017

On Tuesday 7th March, Maria Doyle, Seán Cottrell and David Ruddy presented on the topic of the proposed Education Amendment Bill 2015 regarding an Ombudsman for Education and also the General Scheme of an Education (Parent & Student Charter) Bill 2016.

The following is the opening statement presented by Maria Doyle, reflecting the key points raised by IPPN:

1. IPPN considers the establishment of an Ombudsman for Education to be unnecessary and sees no evidence or justification for an additional oversight layer within the education sector. The current office of the Ombudsman for Children works both collaboratively and effectively with schools and professional organisations in representing the voice of children and encourages schools to have robust and effective policies and practices in place to promote the welfare and rights of children. The provisions of the Education (Parent & Student Charter) Bill as outlined will strengthen the current role of the Ombudsman for Children and in doing so eliminates the necessity to establish an Ombudsman for Education.

1. IPPN welcomes and supports the provision of a Parent & Student Charter – with a focus on fostering the culture of change within school communities to prevent grievances from arising. Schools currently work collaboratively with parents and pupils to promote the welfare and rights of children, and welcome the setting out in law of Principles of Engagement with Students & Parents. Current procedures used to address Parental Complaints in schools have been agreed by Management Bodies and Unions. However, these procedures are not underpinned by legislation and have in the past been widely interpreted often giving rise to confusion and conflict. Schools will require significant assistance in drafting individual Parent & Student Charters as the interpretation of the bill could lead to a variety of interpretations of the elements as outlined in the legislation. The complimentary role of the Parent & Student Charter with the School Self Evaluation model is viewed as positive and welcomed by IPPN.

David Ruddy commented that principals and boards are comfortable with scrutiny and that there are many entities already providing such scrutiny, including the Inspectorate, the Teaching Council and the two Ombudsman offices. A further layer is not necessary, although a strengthening of the Ombudsman for Children’s role could be warranted to resolve the issues raised by Jim Daly in the bill. Seán Cottrell commented that the proposed Charter for Parents and Students must not become a further administrative burden on principals who are already overloaded, particularly the 60% of principals who teach full-time; the proposals must not be a box-ticking exercise with no change in practice and must work on the ground.

The following parties also presented:

• Jim Daly TD (former primary principal in Skibbereen) – initiated the proposed Education Amendment Bill 2015
• Martin Hanevy, DES
• Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children
• Peter Tyndall, Ombudsman
• John Lohan, Department of Children and Youth Affairs
• Mark Bohan, Department of Expenditure and Public Reform
• Áine Lynch, National Parents’ Council Primary
• Lorraine Dempsey, Special Needs Parents’ Association.

The meeting was chaired by Fiona O’Loughlin TD and was attended by JOC members: Senator Catherine Martin, Senator Robbie Gallagher, Senator Maria Byrne and Senator Ó Clochartaigh. A transcript of the full discussion will be available at http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/es/