asked the Minister for Education the functions that the national school management boards have.

The functions of the National School Management Boards are those assigned to the manager under the rules for national schools. The main provision is in rule 15, section (1) of which reads as follows:

The manager of a national school is charged with the direct government of the school, the appointment of the teachers, subject to the Minister's approval, their removal and the conducting of the necessary correspondence.

A document on the constitution and rules of procedure for national school management boards has just been issued. I am having copies made available to the Oireachtas Library.

When was the document issued?

Very recently. Within the last week or so.

24.

asked the Minister for Education the present position in regard to secondary school management boards.

Because of the particular institutional character of secondary schools the arrangements to be made in regard to management boards are primarily a matter for the managerial authorities and it would not be appropriate for me to formulate an assessment of the present position.

In view of the fact that the Minister took some interest in the formation of management boards in the beginning does he intend to take any new initiative in this matter?

Apart from my speech in Galway last year at which I requested secondary schools to undertake this new initiative I do not think it would be my function to take any new initiative in that regard.