Provision is made in the Education Act 1998 to allow parents of students of a school to set up a Parents Association. The Act states that:
"The parents of students of a recognised school may establish and maintain from among their number, a parents’ association for the school and membership of that association shall be open to all parents of students of that school.
The parents association in a school works with the principal, staff and board of management to build effective co-operation and partnership between home and school."
The role of the parent’s association is set down in the Education Act 1998 as follows:
"A parents association shall promote the interests of the students in a school in co-operation with the board, principal, teachers and students."
The Education Act also sets out two broad tasks for a parents association which are:
• To advise the Principal or the Board on matters relating to the school
• To adopt a programme of activities which will promote the involvement of parents in the operation of the school, in consultation with the principal.
