Call for publication of school reports in full

Information Commissioner Emily O'Reilly has strongly attacked the Department of Education for its resistance to the publication of school inspection reports.

Earlier this year, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin approved the release of a limited form of inspection report, a development Ms O'Reilly credited yesterday to pressure from the Freedom of Information Act.

However, Ms O'Reilly said she believed the reports published should include details of exam results and other assessments.

"I believe it is unrealistic, for as long as entry to third level is based on a points system, to believe that parents will be satisfied with information on schools which does not include some details on academic achievements."

Ms O'Reilly said it was unsatisfactory that for many years the department had opposed the release of the same information which the Minister was now happy to publish.

"Indeed, it strikes me as more than a little ironic that the position the department has now arrived at is the same as that reached by my predecessor, Kevin Murphy, in March 2003, when he directed that the reports should be released."

She said it was regrettable that the journey now adopted by the Minister had included "diversions" to both the High Court and the Supreme Court at a cost of €300,000 to the public purse.

In a statement yesterday evening, the department said it did not instigate the proceedings.

"These were taken by a private individual against the Information Commissioner. It is inaccurate to suggest or imply, therefore, that the department caused some €300,000 to be spent needlessly in legal costs."

Ms O'Reilly also expressed concern at the delay by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in implementing its decision to publish reports on inspections of private nursing homes, as well as the HSE's failure to give a firm indication of when it intends to start publication.