State's powers may be “unconstitutional”

POWERS given to the State by education laws may be unconstitutional, a legal expert has warned.

The Education Act 1998 and other legislation has set out to give greater power to local bodies and schools, but also granted certain powers to the Minister for Education.

Oliver Mahon, a barrister and former school principal, said it was the clear intention of the Constitution to restrict and delimit the role of the State in the education system.