2.—(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

“the Act of 1996” means the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996;

“the Act of 1997” means the Youth Work Act, 1997;

“the Act of 1998” means the Education Act, 1998;

“authorised person” has the meaning assigned to it by section 14;

F1[…]

“board of management” means a board of management appointed in accordance with section 14 of the Act of 1998 or such persons as are required by subsection (3) of that section to discharge the functions of a board of management;

F1[…]

“child” means a person resident in the State who has reached the age of 6 years and who—

(a) has not reached the age of 16 years, or

(b) has not completed 3 years of post-primary education,

whichever occurs later, but shall not include a person who has reached the age of 18 years;

“educational welfare officer” shall be construed in accordance with section 11;

“functions” includes powers and duties and references to the performance of functions include, as respects powers and duties, references to the exercise of the powers and the carrying out of the duties;

F2[…]

“inspector” means an inspector appointed under section 13(1) of the Act of 1998 and includes the Chief Inspector appointed thereunder;

“local authority” means a local authority for the purposes of the Local Government Act, 1941;

“the Minister” means the Minister for Education and Science;

“national association of parents” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 1998;

“National Council for Curriculum and Assessment” means the body established by section 39 of the Act of 1998;

“National Youth Work Advisory Committee” means the committee appointed under section 10 of the Act of 1997;

“parent” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 1998;

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

“principal” shall be construed in accordance with section 23 of the Act of 1998, and includes any person (other than a person to whom that section applies), for the time being, performing the functions of principal, in relation to a recognised school, under that Act;

“recognised school” means—

(a) a school designated by the Minister under subsection (1) of section 10 of the Act of 1998 to be a school recognised for the purposes of that Act, or

(b) a school deemed to be a school recognised in accordance with the said section 10;

“recognised school management organisations” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 1998;

“recognised trade union or staff association” means a trade union or staff association recognised by the F3[Child and Family Agency] for the purposes of negotiations that are concerned with the remuneration, conditions of employment, or working conditions of employees;

“registered medical practitioner” has the same meaning as it has in the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978;

“school day” shall be construed in accordance with regulations under section 25 of the Act of 1998;

“school year” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 1998;

“trade union” means a trade union that is the holder of a negotiation licence under Part II of the Trade Union Act, 1941;

F4[…]

“youth work” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Act of 1997.

(2) In this Act, a reference to a Part, section or Schedule is a reference to a Part or section of, or a Schedule to, this Act unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended.

(3) In this Act, a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph is a reference to the subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the provision (including the Schedule) in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that a reference to some other provision is intended.

(4) In this Act, a reference to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended, adapted or extended, whether before or after the commencement of this subsection, by or under any subsequent enactment.