Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 September 2016
131. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures to be rolled out to ensure the implementation of Children First guidance in schools as provided for in the action plan for education; and if it is intended that all school staff will receive training in Children First. [27632/16]
View answer132. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans regarding the provision of additional support to the professional development support for teachers, PDST, to support the implementation of Children First in schools as provided for in the action plan for education. [27633/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together.
In autumn 2011, my Department issued "Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools" based on the "Children First – National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011”. These procedures apply to all primary and post-primary schools. The purpose of the procedures is to give direction and guidance to school authorities in the implementation of Children First when dealing with allegations/suspicions of child abuse and neglect.
The Deputy will be aware that the Children First Act 2015 will, when fully commenced by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, put elements of the Children First- National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2011) on a statutory footing. The Act provides for a number of key child protection measures such as a requirement on organisations providing services to children to keep children safe and to produce a Child Safeguarding Statement, a requirement on defined categories of persons (mandated persons which includes all registered teachers) to report child protection concerns over a defined threshold to the Child and Family Agency and a requirement on mandated persons to assist the Agency in the assessment of a child protection risk, if requested to do so by the Agency.
Work is currently underway in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in relation to publishing an updated Children First to reflect the Act’s requirements. The commencement of the 2015 Act and the publication of a new Children First will necessitate changes to the existing procedures for schools. In preparation for the forthcoming changes, my Department has recently commenced a review of the existing procedures for schools in consultation with the relevant education partners.
The Professional Development Service for Teachers through its Health and Wellbeing Team will develop a continuing professional development framework to support the implementation of Children First in schools. When the framework is developed the additional supports required to support schools will be considered.
