Specific Legislative Responsibilities
Last updated: Sat, Sep 7th, 2019 9:32:41 am
The Education (Welfare) Act 2000
This Act concerns itself particularly with school attendance. It raises the school leaving age to 16 years. It imposes duties and obligations on parents and pupils to ensure that every child in the State attends a recognised school or otherwise receives an appropriate education.
The legislation provided for the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) to support schools and parents in fulfilling their duties under the Act. Boards of Management are obliged to implement any guidelines or instructions issued by the NEWB. This agency has now been subsumed into the Child and Family Agency TUSLA.The Child and Family Agency Act 2013
The Child and Family Agency Act 2013 (No. 40 of 2013) established the Child and Family Agency TUSLA which incorporates the National Educational Welfare Board. The Agency was established with effect from 1 January 2014. The establishment of Ireland's first dedicated Child and Family Agency is a key Programme for Government commitment and represents an essential response to recent reports on child protection failings, including inconsistency and fragmentation in service provision.
Child and family services will now be the sole focus of a single dedicated State agency, overseen by a single dedicated government Department.
The Agency will bring together key services relevant to children and families including;
child protection and welfare services currently operated by the HSE,
the Family Support Agency,
the National Educational Welfare Board.
Further Legislation
Board of Management members should be familiar with other relevant legislation which will arise from time to time in the course of their work – for example: