asked the Minister for Education what regulations exist in his Department in regard to (1) the effective prevention of fire, (2) provision for escape in the event of an outbreak of fire and (3) the teaching and regular practice of fire drill in (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) vocational educational schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fire Prevention in Schools.
67.
Fire protection instructions relating to public buildings and institutions including schools have been issued in booklet form by the Department of Local Government.
The standards laid down in that publication were drawn up by a technical committee set up for the purpose of framing such standards.
The local authority fire officers carry out inspections of institutions with a view to securing that standards are enforced.
The regulations for the recognition or continued recognition of national schools require that a suitable fireguard be provided therein for each open fireplace.
Grants are made by my Department towards the cost of the provision of such fireguards.
A circular was issued in October, 1953, to all managers of national schools requesting them to make arrangements to ensure that all fires in schools are properly extinguished before the premises are vacated for the day. Attention was also called to the danger of leaving articles of clothing, stationery or other materials on electric storage heaters.
In the case of the vast majority of national schools which are small one storey buildings, the need for formal fire drill does not arise.
Vocational schools, which are also non-residential, are the property of the local authorities and the responsibility for the safety of the pupils in attendance rests with these authorities.
Secondary schools, which may be either residential or day schools, are privately owned institutions and the responsibility for the safety of the pupils in attendance therein devolves upon the managers and the owners.
Surely the fact that schools were privately owned was no reason to suggest that the Minister for Education himself had no responsibility for the safety of the pupils?
Would it not be a matter for the local authority?
As far as secondary schools are concerned is the Minister able to state whether these regulations are being carried out?
In the case of the local authorities I am given to understand there are properly qualified fire officers who inspect all buildings, used to any degree by the public, and I take it they satisfy themselves the conditions there are such as will not permit fire to spread very easily, particularly in the case of schools or buildings where children are congregated. Secondly, the issue of grants to school authorities depends on the condition of the buildings, and the condition in relation to fire is also taken into account in that respect.
The Minister mentioned the 1953 circular sent to managers of schools, dealing with fire precautions. Does he consider it would be advisable to issue such a circular regularly to the managers of schools?
If I thought there was any necessity to remind the managers of the contents of the circular, that would be done.