Brian Hayes
Question:607 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of designated liaison persons at primary level and second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4369/09]
View answerTuesday, 10 February 2009
Questions (549, 550)
Written answers
The primary statutory responsibility for child protection lies with the Health Service Executive. The role of my Department is to provide guidance and support to schools in implementing child protection policy and to refer any allegations received to the appropriate authorities for investigation.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has issued child protection guidelines and procedures to all schools. The guidelines are based on Children First — the Department of Health & Children's national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children. The Children First guidelines make very clear the reporting and investigation mechanisms to be followed in cases of suspected child abuse wherever they occur, and the lead role of the HSE. The guidelines for schools require each board of management to designate a senior member of staff, normally the principal, as the Designated Liaison Person (DLP) for the school. The DLP acts as a liaison person with the health authorities and other agencies on child protection issues and as a resource person to any staff member who has concerns in this regard. My Department does not keep a register of Designated Liaison Persons. The appointment of DLP's is a matter for each school.
In 2006, my Department issued Circulars to all schools reminding them, amongst other things, of the requirement to have a DLP appointed. As part of the circular, schools were issued with and were required to complete a questionnaire which sought to ascertain the level of compliance with the guidelines. The indications from that survey were that the vast majority of schools had DLP's in place at that time. My Department does not have current information in relation to all schools. As part of Whole School Evaluation the Department's Inspectorate checks that Child Protection Policies are in place and that a Designated Liaison Person has been appointed.
The Department has provided and continues to provide in-service training for Designated Liaison Persons and Deputy Designated Liaison Persons to assist them in dealing with child protection issues. In addition, the Department facilitates training for boards of management, parent education and also provides training at Pre-Service level if requested to do so by the colleges of education.
Brian Hayes
Question:608 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff at primary level and second level who have received in-service training for dealing with child protection issues and in particular reporting procedures, other than training for the stay safe programme or SPHE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4370/09]
View answerThe DES Child Protection Guidelines are an adaptation of the Department of Health and Children/Health Service Executive "Children First" guidelines. They set out the responsibilities and requirements for teachers in the event of a disclosure in the classroom.
The data sets out the provision since January 2008 when the latest round of training began for primary schools on the Child Protection Guidelines:
Primary
Eighty six seminars took place in the school year 2007-2008
All primary schools were invited to send their Designated Liaison Person (DLP) (usually the principal of the school)
1,862 DLPs attended the seminars
1,862 schools were represented
61 seminars took place in the school year 2008-2009
All primary schools were invited to send one member of the teaching staff, this included DLPs that did not attend the round of seminars in the previous school year.
1,010 teachers attended the seminars,
1,010 schools were represented
The data of staff at post primary level who have received in-service training for dealing with child protection issues are as follows:
2004-2008
Number of Schools Invited: 730
Number of Events Held: 150
Number of Schools Represented: 668
Total Number of Participants 2004-2008: 4,534
For 2009 the projected training plans are as follows:
Number of Schools Invited: 730
Number of Events Planned: 20
Total Projected Number of Participants: 570