I welcome the Minister of State but point out that he may have to leave the Chamber to attend a vote in the Dáil.
Teacher Training
I apologise for being late. As I thought the Seanad was going to have a vote, I was waiting for the bell.
I ask the Minister for Education and Skills, through the Minister of State, to require teacher education colleges to include a component for pre-service teachers on awareness of fatal allergies. An example of this is nut allergies, which can lead to an anaphylactic shock in children. This has happened in schools and unfortunately the teacher may not be prepared or trained to cope with it.
Anaphylaxis is the medical term given to a severe allergic reaction that affects the whole body. In its most extreme form, the reaction results in a person going into anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal. I have seen someone suffer anaphylactic shock. It is quite deforming and the whole face can twist as if it was a stroke. The whole body comes out in a severe rash. There is a growing list of everyday items that can give rise to anaphylactic shock for some people, including foods such as nuts, kiwis and sesame seeds, insect stings and drugs. If people become allergic to antibiotics, the overuse of antibiotics can induce anaphylactic shock. The life-threatening nature of this type of severe allergy makes it a very serious condition to live with for those at risk. The good news is that an anaphylactic reaction can be reversed through the injection of medicine called adrenaline if applied fast enough. Therefore, through a combination of proper diagnosis of those at risk, careful avoidance of the particular cause of the allergy and the constant availability of emergency medication, people at risk can lead a normal life. The major issue is that those caring for such people, such as teachers or special needs assistants, have this information.
The most common causes of anaphylactic shock are nuts, and in particular the very common peanuts; fish, especially shellfish; sesame seeds; dairy products; eggs; soya; wasp or bee stings; natural latex such as rubber; penicillin and other drugs. Severe allergic reactions to fresh fruit, including kiwis and apples, are also increasingly being reported. In some individuals, exercise can trigger a reaction, either on its own or in combination with other factors such as ingestion of a particular food.
What are the symptoms and what would a teacher in the classroom need to watch for? Typical symptoms are swelling of throat and mouth. I know that one carer found a person with the throat about to close, which left the person close to suffocation. Other typical symptoms include difficulty in swallowing or speaking, alterations in heart rate, difficulty breathing due to severe asthma or throat swelling, hives anywhere on the body, especially large hives, generalised flushing of the skin, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, a sudden feeling of weakness and a drop in blood pressure, a sense of impending doom and collapse and unconsciousness. As these symptoms could be symptoms of other diseases it is important to have a real understanding of what is anaphylaxis. The above details are extracts from the information sources available, which includes the website of the Irish anaphylaxis campaign.
I would be grateful if the Minister for Education and Skills would make arrangements to ensure an appropriate system is put in place to highlight the awareness of these conditions to both primary and secondary pre-service students of teaching. As can be seen from what is outlined above, all the knowledge in the world on child psychology etc. will not matter if a child in the classroom presents with the above symptoms and the teacher fails to recognise them as potentially fatal. I strongly recommend that just one component, class or module throughout the three-year teacher training course would be on anaphylaxis awareness. That is very little to ask for. In effect it might just amount to a 45 minute session. That may be enough to save the life of a child, as awareness of the symptoms can lead to quick action. A very short training course is all that is required. It should also be included in ongoing teacher refresher courses. I accept budgets are tight. I would not envisage that this simple addition to the course would cost anything because one could invite in a health professional to speak to 300 students at a time. I urge the Minister to consider this inclusion. Allergies, unfortunately, are on the increase. Awareness can save lives. We should act on a request such as this that is easy to implement.
I am anxious about the position in the other Chamber.
We will inform the Minister of State when the division takes place. We can see it on the monitor.
I appreciate that the Leas-Chathaoirleach will monitor the situation for me. I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Coughlan. I welcome this opportunity to discuss the issue raised by Senator Healy Eames of including a component on potentially fatal allergies, which can cause anaphylactic shock in children, in initial teacher education courses for primary teachers.
In accordance with a school's duty of care to its pupils, each school authority should have in place appropriate practices and procedures to ensure the safety and protection of its pupils in all aspects of its activities. Rules 121(4) and 124(1) of the rules for national schools and section 23(2) of the Education Act 1998 oblige teachers to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of pupils and to participate in supervising pupils when they are on school premises, during school time or on school activities. Accordingly, the responsibility of all teachers individually and collectively to provide a duty of care at all times towards the pupils in the school in which they teach, including periods of supervision, remains.
Anaphylaxis, also known as anaphylactic shock, is an extreme allergic reaction to a substance, such as nuts, that can be severe and potentially fatal. Anaphylactic reactions are treated by prompt administration of adrenaline by injection. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that parents and guardians immediately advise schools and teachers of children diagnosed with such food allergies.
The Department cannot direct any member of the board of management or teaching staff of the school to administer medical treatment to pupils as they are actions and procedures which are normally carried out by medical professionals such as doctors and nurses. The administration of medicines in primary schools is the subject of an agreement between the Irish National Teachers Organisation and the organisations representing school management at primary level. The Department is not a party to the INTO-CPSMA agreement on the administration of medication.
While this agreement specifies that no teacher can be required to administer medicine or drugs to pupils, it also sets out procedures that must be followed where a teacher or teachers agree to do so. The position is that either the parents of the child should make themselves available to administer medication as required or where they wish the staff in the school to administer it, they should indemnify the school. It is the Department's experience that once the matter has been discussed in detail with the board of management and teachers of a school and once all parties are clear as to the procedures to be followed, arrangements can normally be made to administer the type of medicine which may be required in each case.
The five State-funded colleges of education for primary teaching aim to prepare student teachers to meet the diverse needs of all their pupils. The content of initial teacher education courses is a matter for the individual colleges of education. The extent to which potentially fatal allergies are covered varies in the five colleges. All the colleges have stated that the issue of medical conditions, including allergies, is covered in the lectures dealing with preparation for teaching practice. Some of the colleges cover the topic more extensively outside of preparation for teaching practice. For example, in the Church of Ireland College of Education, third year students in their final semester attend a session on health and safety which specifically covers life threatening allergies. In Froebel College, the topic is highlighted in professional development lectures and early childhood lectures as part of an awareness of critical incidents in primary schools. The colleges have also stated that a large number of students also complete optional first aid courses which cover the issue outside of the formal course requirements.
The Teaching Council has statutory responsibility for the review and accreditation of programmes of initial teacher education and considers all course content in this context. Reviews of four initial teacher education programmes at primary and post-primary level took place on a pilot basis in the 2009 to 2010 academic year. A further four reviews are under way in the current academic year. Teacher education, however, does not end after initial teacher education. The council's policy on teacher education will cover the continuum of teacher education beginning with initial teacher education and entry to the profession, followed by induction, probation and continuing professional development. The outcome of the pilot reviews is shaping the council's proposals on the teacher education continuum as a whole. I understand the council will shortly publish its public consultation paper on its policy for the continuum.
The Teaching Council has published its code of professional conduct for registered teachers which states: "Teachers work with management, students and parents in establishing and maintaining policies which are necessary for a safe and supportive teaching and learning environment". In the actual code of conduct the first statement is: "Teachers should take care of students under their supervision with the aim of ensuring their safety and welfare in so far as is reasonably practicable." Persons or their representative associations who wish to make proposals on this issue would be most welcome to contact the higher education institutions' teacher education providers with a view to providing them with material for health and safety and dietary lectures in respect of the dangers of anaphylactic shock in children. The Health and Safety Authority, HSA, also runs a dedicated health and safety course for teachers. Further information is available on the HSA's web site. I thank the Senator for allowing me the opportunity to outline the Department's position on this issue. I will raise this matter with the Teaching Council without delay.
The Minister of State has to leave the Chamber as there is a division in the Dáil.
Sitting suspended at 7.50 p.m and resumed at 8 p.m.