Catholic Primary School Management Association

 

The Operation of Primary Schools in Ireland

 

A Primary school is regulated by the following:

1. The Education Act
2. The Education Welfare Act
3. The Rules for National Schools
4. The Rules and Constitutions for Boards of Management
5. The Patron's Directives
6. The Minister for Education's Directives
7. The Inspectorate as agents for the Minister
8. The Diocesan Advisors for Religious Education as agents of the Patron

THE BOARD IN ACTION

The Board is accountable to the Patron. The Board is accountable to the School Trustees.

The Trustees entered a Vesting Agreement with the Minister and the Trustees are responsible for all Capital expenditure of the school building.

The Board's functions are outlined in Section 15 of the Education Act and in the Rules for National Schools.

The Board is accountable to the Patron and to the Minister for Education and Science trough the Inspectorate and the Minister's Office officials in the DES.

The Board acts within the Rules and Procedures for Boards of Management as agreed by the National Parents Council Primary, the INTO, the Management Bodies and the DES.

Please refer to the CPSMA Management Board Members' Handbook pages 3-8 and 16 to 45.

THE IRISH CONSTITUTION

 

Under the Constitution, the State is required to provide for a minimum standard of Education.

The State is also required to vindicate the Constitutional Right of the citizens to a minimum standard of education.

The Irish Primary Education System is therefore a State Aided not State Funded System

 

PROCEDURE FOR THE STATE IN FULFILLING THE CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE FOR EDUCATION

 

The State does this by recognising Individuals, Companys and Bishops as Patrons of Primary Schools

There is a Register of Patrons of Primary Schools and the State can have additional models of Patronage of a Primary School.

It is the Minister for Education and Science who on behalf of the State recognises a Patron of a Primary School

The Patron can manage a Primary School alone or appoint a Single Manager or a Board of Management to manage the school on the Patron's behalf.

Once a school has a Patron and a Management structure in place, the State, through the Minister for Education and Science, releases grants to manage the school.

The Board appoints the teaching staff with the Patron's approval and the Minister's sanction.

The Board are the employers of the teachers. The Department of Education and Science is the Paymaster.

The State vindicates the child's constitutional right to a minimum standard of education through the Minister for Education and Science and the Department of Education and Science.