Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 8

Adjournment Debate. - Public Indemnity Insurance for Transition and PLC Students.

Mr. B. O'Keeffe

I thank the Chair for allowing me raise this issue which is of vital importance to transition and VPT students in community and comprehensive schools. The withdrawal of indemnity insurance from companies who give work experience to students was disappointing in the extreme. It was discriminatory as students at vocational education committee and secondary schools did not suffer the same fate. I understand there may have been difficulties with the previous scheme but another scheme should have been put in place to give continuity to the programme which was worthwhile for students.

Health boards, local authorities and private companies notified the principals of community and comprehensive schools that they would no longer co-operate in the scheme and there is now serious doubt that they will give students work experience. Approximately 6,000 students are affected. The cost of the scheme is not excessive. The 73 schools involved are at their wits end and do not know how to regain the confidence of employers. The new scheme introduced by the Minister last week is not employer friendly. Employers are required to have a health and safety statement. The principals and course organisers must satisfy themsleves as to the general suitability of the employer's premises prior to any placement. Companies take the view that this is an intrusion into their affairs. Is the Minister saying that this policy will not cover small businesses that do not have a health and safety statement?

There is one school with 160 pupils in transition year or on VPT courses. Under the terms of the indemnity insurance scheme the principal or course organiser must visit 160 premises to vet their suitability. Surely the Minister accepts that is impossible. How can a teacher engaged in teaching duties comply with such a demand?

I understand that certain activities would be excluded from public indemnity insurance but excluding the operation of machinery in engineering, woodwork and joinery denies the student practical training in the work-place. In effect the Minister is saying it is all right to cover woodwork, engineering and joinery in the school but students cannot continue to be trained by a possible future employer. Is that not what work experience is about? I ask the Minister to review some of the nonsensical aspects of this cover and renegotiate an employer friendly scheme which will be advantageous to students.

Minister of State at the Department of Education (Mr. Allen)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

The State provides a general indemnity to community and comprehensive school authorities in lieu of their taking out commercial insurance cover against liabilities which may arise. The scale and extent of this indemnity facilitates the provision of a full academic programme and a range of other school activities in community and comprehensive schools similar to that enjoyed by other sectors who make their own private insurance arrangements.

Following the restructuring the senior cycle and the introduction of school programmes which involve attendance by pupils at a place of employment to gain experience of a work station, employers agreed to add the pupils to their public and employer liability policies, any additional cost being recouped from the schools.

This arrangement worked satisfactorily for a number of years. Recently, however, some employers on the advice of their insurance companies withdrew from this arrangement on the basis that they now require full indemnity from the school against any claims arising in respect of pupils engaged on work experience.

To resolve this difficulty, my Department with the assistance of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, the relevant representative management body for the sector, invited quotations from a number of insurance companies regarding appropriate insurance cover for the pupils concerned. I am happy to report to the House that a policy has recently been negotiated which will provide the required indemnity in respect of any claims against employers by pupils while attending at work stations.

My Department will monitor the new arrangements closely to ensure that they are adequate to meet the needs of pupils of community and comprehensive schools who wish to participate in work experience programmes.