Grace Boland

947. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department, or any body under its aegis, has funded, or is funding, other than where legal costs were awarded against the employer by a court or tribunal, the legal costs of any current or concluded litigation taken by an employee or former employee against that Department or body, in each of the past five years; if so, to provide details of the number of such cases, the bodies involved, and the total costs incurred in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2026/26]

948. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the basis on which his Department, or a body under its aegis, may fund the legal costs of an employee or former employee in litigation where that employee is in dispute with, or taking proceedings against, the same body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2044/26]

949. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the funding of employee legal costs in disputes against his Department, or a body under its aegis, is standard practice; if not, the circumstances in which such funding may be permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2062/26]

950. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to outline the guidance, codes, circulars or directions that govern the payment of legal costs by his Department, and bodies under its aegis, in employment-related disputes, including any requirements under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies or Departmental sanction arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2080/26]

951. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the funding of employee legal costs in litigation against the employing body could give rise to governance, accountability, or value for money concerns; whether his Department has issued any guidance in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2098/26]

952. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department has reviewed, or intends to review, the practice of Departments, and bodies under their aegis, funding legal costs in employment disputes involving those same bodies; and if so, the outcome or timeline for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2116/26]

953. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving his Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of his Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2134/26]

968. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the office rental costs per annum for staff in his Department and for each agency or organisation under his remit, in each of the years between 2015 and 2025 inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74447/25]

1012. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department, or any body under its aegis, has funded, or is funding, other than where legal costs were awarded against the employer by a court or tribunal, the legal costs of any current or concluded litigation taken by an employee or former employee against that Department or body, in each of the past five years; if so, to provide details of the number of such cases, the bodies involved, and the total costs incurred in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2019/26]

1013. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the basis on which his Department, or a body under its aegis, may fund the legal costs of an employee or former employee in litigation where that employee is in dispute with, or taking proceedings against, the same body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2037/26]

1014. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether the funding of employee legal costs in disputes against his Department, or a body under its aegis, is standard practice; if not, the circumstances in which such funding may be permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2055/26]

1015. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to outline the guidance, codes, circulars or directions that govern the payment of legal costs by his Department, and bodies under its aegis, in employment-related disputes, including any requirements under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies or Departmental sanction arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2073/26]

1016. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether the funding of employee legal costs in litigation against the employing body could give rise to governance, accountability, or value for money concerns; whether his Department has issued any guidance in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2091/26]

1017. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has reviewed, or intends to review, the practice of Departments, and bodies under their aegis, funding legal costs in employment disputes involving those same bodies; and if so, the outcome or timeline for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2109/26]

1018. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving his Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of his Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2127/26]

1082. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the office rental costs per annum for staff in her Department and for each agency or organisation under her remit, in each of the years between 2015 and 2025 inclusive, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74446/25]

1125. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the adequacy of the current five-stage complaints procedure agreed in 1993 between organisations (details supplied), given its reliance on the integrity of Boards of Management and reports of parents being unable to resolve serious concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74774/25]

1126. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider introducing a statutory complaints mechanism for parents that does not depend solely on Boards of Management, in view of cases where boards have failed to engage with parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74775/25]

1127. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the circumstances under which the Teaching Council may accept complaints without the school’s internal procedure being fully exhausted; and whether legislative changes are needed to ensure timely intervention in cases of serious concern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74776/25]

1128. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of complaints received by the Teaching Council in the past three years, by source (parents, boards of management, others); the outcomes of these complaints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74777/25]

1129. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the effectiveness of Section 19 of the Education Act 1998 in enabling patrons to intervene when Boards of Management fail to discharge their duties; whether additional powers or guidance are required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74778/25]

1130. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the Department’s role when a patron declines to intervene in a parental complaint; whether a more objective escalation process will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74779/25]

1131. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2019, which aims to strengthen parental rights under the Education Act 1998; when she expects the legislation to progress beyond the third stage in Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74780/25]

1246. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department, or any body under its aegis, has funded, or is funding, other than where legal costs were awarded against the employer by a court or tribunal, the legal costs of any current or concluded litigation taken by an employee or former employee against that Department or body, in each of the past five years; if so, to provide details of the number of such cases, the bodies involved, and the total costs incurred in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2018/26]

1247. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the basis on which her Department, or a body under its aegis, may fund the legal costs of an employee or former employee in litigation where that employee is in dispute with, or taking proceedings against, the same body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2036/26]