36.—(1) On the establishment day there shall stand established the Special Education Appeals Board (in this Act referred to as the “Appeals Board”) to hear and determine appeals made pursuant to this Act.

(2) The Appeals Board may sit in divisions of itself to hear appeals.

(3) In hearing and determining an appeal under this Act, the Appeals Board shall act in accordance with such procedures as may be determined from time to time by it, with the consent of the Minister, and such procedures shall ensure that—

(a) the parties to the appeal are assisted, through mediation, to reach agreement on the matters the subject of the appeal where the Appeals Board is of the opinion that reaching such agreement is practicable in the circumstances,

(b) hearings are conducted with the minimum of formality consistent with giving each of the parties a fair hearing,

(c) the Appeals Board performs its functions in accordance with the policies referred to in section 13(2).

(4) The Appeals Board shall be independent in the performance of its functions.

(5) The Appeals Board shall consist of a chairperson and such number of ordinary members as may be determined, by the Minister.

(6) The chairperson and ordinary members of the Appeals Board shall be appointed by the Minister from among persons who have a special interest in or knowledge of education and in particular the education of persons with special educational needs.

(7) The term of office of the chairperson and the ordinary members of the Appeals Board shall be for such period as shall be determined by the Minister.

(8) The chairperson or an ordinary member of the Appeals Board may resign by letter addressed to the Minister.

(9) The chairperson or an ordinary member of the Appeals Board may be removed from office by the Minister.

(10) The chairperson and ordinary members of the Appeals Board shall be paid such allowances for expenses as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may determine.

(11) The Appeals Board may, with the consent of the Minister given with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, appoint such and so many persons to be employees of the Appeals Board as the Board considers necessary to assist the Board in the performance of its functions and each person so appointed shall hold office on such terms and receive such remuneration as the Appeals Board with the consent of the Minister for Finance determines.