Scoil Náisiúnta Seanbhaile operates under the Education Act (1998), the Education Act (2000), Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act (2005), Data Protection Acts (1998, 2003) and the Rules for National Schools which are made by the Minister of Education. The Department of Education and Science is the predominant source of funding for the school. The school is under the patronage of the Catholic Church and this is reflected in the ethos of the school (and therefore the school has a Catholic Ethos).
The school is managed by a Board of Management. This is a body of persons recognised by the Minister of Education and Science and all persons nominated to the board shall have a commitment to the ethos of the school and shall have an understanding of a commitment to Catholic Education as outlined in the Deed of Trust for Catholic Schools.