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Health and Safety in Schools.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2005

Thursday, 3 February 2005

Questions (22)

Trevor Sargent

Question:

18 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if a hands on approach is needed from her Department in relation to basic first aid for schools, in view of specifically the high risk environment that exists there and the dangers that inappropriate practices might be carried out if the matter is left up to the Health and Safety Authority without any circulars issued by her Department; if basic first aid training will be incorporated into benchmarking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3063/05]

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Written answers

The board of management/manager of a school, following consultation between the principal and the staff, determines the duties which need to be performed by the holders of posts of responsibility for the effective internal management of the school and the distribution of these duties between the posts having regard to the school's own priorities. Among the duties which have been identified as appropriate for assignment to holders of posts of responsibility in schools is that of first aid and safety officer.

My Department's teacher education section has, through the education centre network approved and funded a number of first aid courses for teachers in the context of its summer course programme in 2004. That section also provides funding to education centres for the provision of courses to meet locally identified priority needs, which include first aid courses for teachers.

Given the existing arrangements for the provision of first aid services in schools, it was not identified by the education partners as a specific issue for inclusion in the modernisation agenda for teachers in the context of payment of the benchmarking award.

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.

In relation to funding, primary schools are given an annual allocation of €3,809 plus €12.70 per pupil under the grant scheme for minor works which can be used entirely at the discretion of school management to address basic health and safety issues relating to school infrastructure. In practical terms, individual school authorities are best placed to assess the detail of their own health and safety requirements. I am satisfied that the majority of schools are aware of their responsibilities in this area.

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