Liability of school boards

Madam, - I refer to Mary Raftery's column, "Liability Crisis for Schools" (Opinion, April 5th).

Madam, - I refer to Mary Raftery's column, "Liability Crisis for Schools" (Opinion, April 5th).

Ms Raftery's example is factually incorrect - and more generally, her proposition regarding the legal liability of individual members of boards of management is entirely rebutted by the existence of the 1998 Education Act.

Ms Raftery suggested that the majority of the members of the board of management of Drumbaragh National School in Co Meath have decided to resign. This is not the case. One member resigned.

Regarding the possible liability facing individual members of boards of management, such boards are corporate entities and accordingly individual members cannot be sued. Individuals on boards of management are covered by the Education Act and also by insurance. Both indicate clearly that individual members cannot be sued for anything done in good faith.

READ MORE

Obviously, as in all other situations, this does not include criminal activity or deliberates acts of wrongdoing. - Yours, etc,

MARTIN LONG, Director, Catholic Communications Office, Columba Centre, Maynooth, Co Kildare.