A new independent appeals procedure for the allocation of secondary teachers in schools is to begin next year.
The Minister for Education, Dr Woods, has also announced a new appeal system for the recognition of new primary schools by the Department. This should help to avoid a situation where schools established by parents - such as gaelscoileanna or multi-denominational schools - often have to wait for years before gaining formal recognition.
Both initiatives should help to make the system for teacher allocation and recognition of schools more transparent and accountable.
At present, Dáil question time to the Minister for Education is often dominated by these issues as TDs lobby for an extra teacher for one school or formal recognition for a primary school.
Last night, Dr Woods said he had appointed Mr Jim Lyons as chairman of the new body. Mr Lyons is a former chief executive Officer of the Co Clare Vocational Education Committee.
Dr Woods said: "The establishment of an appeals procedure on second-level teacher allocations is another important step in the process to increase openness and transparency in decision-making within my Department and to further improve the responsiveness of decisions to identified educational needs."
The establishment of an independent appeals forum to consider teacher allocation appeals by second-level schools is in line with the recommendations of a recent expert report. The forum will consider appeals from school managers for additional teachers. It will begin its work next year.
The new procedures for primary schools will apply to applications received in the coming months in respect of schools seeking recognition from the autumn of 2003.
•A Catholic parents group claimed yesterday that many schools have developed policies across a range of issues without any input from parents.
Ms Barbara Johnston, of the Catholic Secondary School Parents Association (CSPA), said codes of behaviour, anti-bullying policies, substance misuse policies and school development plans have been drawn up without parental consultation.
This situation must be rectified, she said. The CSPA was now making representations to the Department and to the management bodies, she said.