Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014
153. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to written correspondence of 24 January 2014 if he has received any advice on whether the use of isolation rooms is a breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Ireland is expected to ratify in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9161/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that many schools withdraw pupils occasionally from the main classroom for short periods of time in order to provide support to them, or to manage pupil behaviour, if a child is exhibiting behaviours which may be a danger to themselves or others. In some circumstances, a child who is exhibiting extreme behaviours may be brought to another room to ensure the safety of other pupils and until they are calm again.
Such rooms or spaces may not be officially designated as 'withdrawal' rooms, e.g. schools may use existing classrooms or other spaces within the school. This is a normal facet of the management of pupil behaviour. Where used, it will normally form part of a school's response to behaviour and part of student support structures, procedures and practices.
Some special schools for pupils with severe emotional behavioural disorders, or Autism, where there are a greater number of pupils likely to exhibit distressed behaviour, may use a room which is designated as a safe space for withdrawal purposes, in order to ensure pupil safety and to prevent self-harm or harm to other pupils.
These rooms are variously described as 'withdrawal rooms', 'time-out rooms', or 'safe spaces'. I am not aware of any schools who use the term 'isolation rooms'.In all cases where such a room is used the child should be under continuous supervision. In circumstances where special schools use designated time out procedures that they should do so with the consent of parents and the school Board of Management.
Where a parent, or any other person, has concerns about the care or safety of a child in school they should report these concerns to the Board of Management of the school in the first instance. Where a parent or other person has a concern about the welfare or protection of a child in a school they may report the matter as a child protection concern to the HSE or to the Department of Education and Skills who will then report any child protection complaint in accordance with my Departments procedures. I have not received specific advice on whether the use of 'isolation' rooms is a breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. However, my Department has asked the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to prepare Policy Advice on Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In developing this policy advice, the NCSE will consult widely with parents, professionals and other stakeholders and interested parties while also conducting research in relation to this area. As part of the process to develop this policy advice, the NCSE will consider the issue of the use of withdrawal in schools for children with autism and advise my Department in relation to this matter.
