Parents concerned about school boards' legal liabilities

The National Parents Council (Primary) has expressed concern that parents who are members of school boards might find themselves personally liable in legal actions taken against the boards.

Delegates attending the council's annual conference said they found it difficult to accept how parents serving on primary school boards of management could be protected from legal liability.

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin told the conference that, based on legal advice from the Attorney General on the issue, no action could lie against them personally.

However Council President Fionnuala Kilfeather said she felt the boards' responsibilities needed to be more clearly defined.

"There must be a closer look at the responsibilities of the minister and the responsibilities of the boards. It appears to us that there is far more emphasis being put on the possible drain on the finances of the State than on the responsibility of the state to the children of the state," she said.