Health and Safety Regulations.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005

Wednesday, 26 January 2005

Questions (1168)

Trevor Sargent

Question:

1232 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that it is common practice for schools to direct that no first aid be applied in the event of an injury to children, that schools are refusing to administer the very basic application of antiseptic and sterile dressing due to litigation fears and that in a great many cases no first aid kits are kept or maintained; and if she has plans to give teachers the basics in first aid training and to ensure that first aid kits are maintained and accessible in every classroom in the country. [1897/05]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of individual school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. The statement should identify potential hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate provision in place to safeguard the safety and health of employees and pupils. The safety statement should be reviewed on a regular basis.

No teacher can be required to administer medicine or drugs to pupils. However, where teachers are willing to administer medicines, this should only be done under strictly controlled guidelines and with the specific authorisation of the authorities of the school concerned.

In practical terms, individual school authorities are best placed to assess the detail of their own health and safety requirements. The Health and Safety Authority is the body with national responsibility for health and safety matters in the workplace. It is open to school management authorities to make direct contact with the Health and Safety Authority in relation to specific matters of concern to them.