Gay Mitchell
Question:78 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the practice of his Department in relation to allegations of child abuse. [12832/99]
Written Answers. - Child Abuse.
Richard Bruton
Question:82 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the preparation, if any, he has undertaken to prepare for mandatory reporting of child abuse. [12831/99]
I propose to take Questions No. 78 and 82 together.
My Department regards all allegations of abuse of children with the utmost seriousness and adopts procedures which have as their primary focus the protection of children.
Under procedures in operation in my Department at present, any allegation relating to abuse of children by any member of the staff of a school which is made to officers of my Department is reported to the principal and chairperson of the board of management of the school whose response to the allegation is closely monitored. If my Department is not satisfied with the response, the matter is referred to the director of community care of the relevant health board. In the case of allegations made directly to school authorities, present procedures also require all such allegations to be brought immediately to the attention of the principal or the chairperson of the board of management. Thereafter the procedures allow for an element of judgment on the part of the school authorities as to whether or not the allegation is based on reasonable grounds before the matter is referred to the health authorities.
My Department keeps the procedures relating to allegations of abuse under regular review. A working party, representative of the education partners. is already examining the existing guidelines on abuse in order to make sure that they represent a comprehensive and fully updated response to this issue. Representatives of the health boards have joined the working party. In addition, officials of my Department are participating in the working group established by the Minister for Health and Children to review procedures generally in this area. This working group is expected to report in the near future, following which my Department will adapt and reissue the procedures for schools and Department staff.
My Department is also involved in the consultation process leading to the publication of the White Paper on mandatory reporting. Until proposals are finalised it is, of course, not possible to say precisely what changes will be required in procedures either at school or Department level, but suffice it to say that my Department will make whatever adaptations are necessary and assist schools in implementing any new procedures.