Vol. 406 No. 4
13 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education the form of training and instruction being given to primary teachers and post-primary teachers to assist in the identification of child abuse and child sex abuse; the follow-up procedures in the event of such suspicions; the number of cases of child abuses and child sex abuse reported by teachers in 1990; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
My Department in conjunction with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, the management bodies and the National Parents' Council, are involved in discussions which, it is hoped, will shortly lead to agreed procedural guidelines which will be of assistance to teachers in dealing with allegations or suspicions of child abuse. Drawing on this experience, similar consultations are planned at post-primary level.
When the guidelines are agreed, it is intended to make them available to all schools. Following the issue of the guidelines, it is proposed to provide inservice training for teachers and also to enter into discussions with the authorities of the colleges of education regarding pre-service training.
My Department do not have details of the number of child abuse cases reported by teachers in 1990.
I thank the Minister for her reply. In view of the fact that the excellent Childline service dealt with 31,800 calls in 1990, that daily there are frightening revelations of the increase in child abuse at various levels, will the Minister agree that schools and teachers are an excellent front line immediate source of detection, that teachers, broadly speaking, find themselves ill-equipped and nervous in dealing with this problem and that there is a urgent need to expedite those deliberations which have been going on since 1989?
I agree with many of the sentiments of Deputy Higgins. We are, and have been for some time, in talks between the INTO, the parents and the management about this very important matter. As the House will realise, confidentiality, discretion and sensitivity are the three fundamentals which will underpin the guidelines. To elaborate, we have been in touch with the Chief State Solicitor's Office and have sought legal advice on various matters which have arisen from the teachers side, the parent's side and the management side. The question is delicate and the need is great but we must arrive at guidelines which are sustainable and under which everybody's rights will be preserved.
In view of the fact that in the interim child abuse is continuing on a daily basis, is the Minister aware of the existence of a discussion document for teachers on child abuse, issued by the ISPCC, which sets down valuable guidelines and procedures which might put in place some kind of interim arrangement on school policy until such time as the formal report comes from the various bodies?
As I explained, we are in discussions with the various bodies and there are very sensitive professional issues from everybody's point of view to be taken into account so that the matter can be dealt with properly. I am sure the guidelines of the Childline service are excellent. I would draw the Deputy's attention to the very excellent child abuse guidelines available from the Department of Health. They also would be of great use.
