Vol. 415 No. 8
88 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that the school medical examination service, with particular reference to follow-up treatment, is at present sufficient to meet the needs of the children of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The school medical examinations have provided an excellent service for the children of the country. The examinations as originally prescribed in the scheme were determined by the health status of school children at that time and are a comprehensive medical examination of all new entrants to national schools; a selective examination of children in the nine to ten age group; and examinations of other children selected on the basis of information furnished about them by their parents, teachers, nurses or other interested parties.
A total of 51,436 new entrants were examined in 1989. This represents over 80 per cent of new entrants to primary schools. The total number of children examined in 1989 was 116,459 which represents about 22 per cent of all primary school children.
