23.—(1) Each board shall prepare and submit to the Department a scheme for the provision to all grant-aided schools in its area of advisory and support services in relation to the curricula and staff of such schools.
(2) A scheme under paragraph (1) shall be in such form as the Department may direct and shall in particular contain provision—
(a)requiring the board, in accordance with a programme prepared under Article 149 of the 1989 Order, to secure the provision of further training for teachers (whether or not employed on the staff of a particular school);
(b)empowering the board to pay to persons undergoing the training referred to in sub-paragraph (a) travelling and other allowances at such rate or of such amount and subject to such conditions as the board may determine;
(c)enabling the board to provide teaching and training materials for use in schools or by persons undergoing the training referred to in sub-paragraph (a);
(d)enabling services, training and materials mentioned in the scheme to be provided by the board itself or through the agency of another board, person or body;
(e)requiring such services, training and materials to be provided free of charge;
(f)requiring the board to secure the agreement of the Board of Governors of a school to the entry into that school for the purposes of the scheme of any persons employed by the board.
(3) Before preparing a scheme under paragraph (1), a board shall consult—
(a)the Board of Governors of every school in its area; and
(b)such other persons as the board considers appropriate.
(4) The Department may request a board to furnish such information in connection with any scheme submitted to the Department under this Article as the Department may require, including information as to the results of consultations under paragraph (3).
(5) The Department may, after making such modifications, if any, in the scheme as after consultation with the board it considers necessary or expedient, approve any scheme submitted to it under this Article.
(6) It shall be the duty of a board to give effect to the provisions of any scheme which has been approved by the Department under this Article.
(7) Where—
(a)a board fails to submit a scheme to the Department in accordance with this Article; or
(b)the Department refuses to approve a scheme submitted to it under this Article,
the Department may, after consultation with the board and such other persons as the Department thinks fit, make a scheme which shall be treated for the purposes of paragraphs (6) and (8) as if it had been made by the board and approved by the Department under this Article.
(8) A board may at any time, and shall if the Department so directs, prepare and submit to the Department a revised scheme or an amendment to an existing scheme and paragraphs (3) to (7) shall apply in relation to any such revised scheme or amendment as they apply in relation to the scheme.