Court can’t undermine boards of management

I am writing regarding Paul Doran’s letter (February 27) criticising the Supreme Court decision to decide against an appeal over alleged Traveller discrimination after a child’s application to a Tipperary school was refused.

Under the 1998 Education Act, the Board of Management of state-supported schools are entitled to determine their own policies to uphold their ethos.

Their decisions, made on behalf of the patron, are beyond interference, not subject to appeal and cannot be overruled by the Department of Education.

In this instance, the court was made aware had it overruled such regulations it would have triggered a national enrolment crisis.

Gerry Coughlan

Parkhill West

Kilnamanagh,

Dublin 24